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NOPE!!

NOPE!!!!!

Nope!

NOPE ...FREEDOM

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

So I've been thinking for a while now (loads of time on my hands, thanks to Coronavirus working it's magic) and here are some lessons I've learnt so far: 1. As a species, we're not indispensable. We're seeing Mother Earth thrive and flourish (at least here in India) when less of us are out and about so to speak. The air has cleared up and I'm seeing a blue in the sky I haven't in a long while. There are birds returning to trees and the whole environment is full of their sounds, so much better to wake up to than horns and cars zooming past (I live right next to a highway, so I can literally "hear" the difference). 2. This planet is not our entitlement, but a loan we owe our coming generations. And once this is over (and it will be) we need to ensure we don't fall right back into the deep hole we already were in. We're not even completely out of it yet, but this lockdown has shown me that we can certainly work towards a better world. By being aware of our surroundings, by using public transport as and when available and possible, by shopping local (here, the delivery companies are barely able to reach and make good with orders placed, we've had all our essentials being made available by our local grocery and other shops), by taking care of how much we "take" from the planet. 3. It has shown us resilience of the human spirit too. I truly salute all the medical professionals, the cleaning and sanitation staff, both for the cities and all the hospitals, the cops, the guy who collects our trash, the security guards. All these people are outside, taking care of us and putting themselves at risk without a single thought. They too have families, but they've put duty before self. What an amazing gesture, one I'm sure we can never repay. 4. There's more to life than spending weekends dancing or drinking or both. I've fallen in love with reading all over again, picked up the pen after eons, found time to pursue a little bit of photography, from my balcony. I've found that switching my phone off and sitting with a book is such a peaceful feeling (with a coffee of course). 5. Also seeing people deal with fear and anxiety daily, and then seeing others helping them out. Instances where people have reached out to their neighbours, run errands for the elderly, come closer as a community. 6. Also learnt that sometimes panic can bring out the worst in us, and we respond by putting our interests and self before the community, but that doesn't help. That's definitely one of the lessons we should not forget. Abundance with one individual shall never translate to wellness for the community. 7. One of the biggest lessons I've learnt is less is more. Here, we have so many for whom 2 square meals is a luxury, and this has only made me truly thankful, that not only can I afford to have 3, but I can do it in a room of my own, sitting with all sorts of devices to distract my mind from the mayhem going on outside. This has absolutely made me realize that what I consider a right (electricity, running water, food) is a priviledge for so many. 8. I've reconnected with my family a lot more than I typically would have. Sure there is some friction on some days, but at the end of the day, I'm glad I can sit and have a round of cards with mum and lose horribly (I suck at playing cards) but still end up having a good time. The virus has caused a lot of damage, but I think that it has also given us the chance to introspect and understand the things that matter, that we would otherwise never think about, in our typical daily lives, where all we were doing is running from work to home and home to work. I truly hope we don't lose these lessons and go back to status quo once everything is better. I hope there are lot more hugs, smiles, pleases and thank yous. I hope there is a lot more appreciation for people who help us with our daily chores. I hope we are thankful for what we have, and I hope we never forget that this experience was meant to change us for the better, even though it may not seem like it at the moment. In the end I also pray for everyone who has suffered because of this virus, and pray they get the strength to move on. Please feel free to add your own lessons, and pardon me if this felt like a ramble.

NOPE!

NOPE

NOPE

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required!)

NOPE...

quit inside your head - the body will follow. if you did it once you can do it again. but this time make it forever. you are quitting a habit - so do not go around replacing one habit with another. eat gum if you feel like it but never because you do not have any other choice. to make quitting smokes seem easy and small - give up something bigger. your mind will start to tackle that and you can quietly quit the smokes easily by the time your mind figures out it has been fooled. lol - play dirty harry. in my case i turned near vegan and fooled my mind and body, lol.

Nope!

I heard "Laurel" each time. Then I got distracted trying to remember if Laurel was the skinny one or the fat one in Laurel and Hardy. I looked it up, Stan Laurel was the skinny one. Oliver Hardy was the fat one. Watched a clip of Laurel & Hardy trying to clean a chimney. Spoiler alert...Hardy falls off the roof. Anyhow...what were we talking about again?

NOPE...

G’day Its NOPE for me

Nope

NOPE

I hear only Yanny

laurel loud and clear. I am with catlover on the timing thing.

yeah I hear Yanny this time, I reckon its on a timer! listen to Laurel for 5 mins then switch to Yanny. Im not going to listen for 6 mins though to prove a point !!

I only hear Laurel, and I listened to it 3 times.

I've listened to it again ....I don't hear Laurel at all...

It was so weird because this morning when I first listened to it I heard both yanny and laurel. This time though I only heard yanny

I hear yammy..loud and clear !!

Voted for laurel because that's what I hear

I don't hear either. I hear garbled non words.

Every quit is different ....every person is different ....a few months short of 7 years has shown me just how much I can't count how many people have welcomed the frying pan ...and have actually saved thier quit ... And have been very grateful..... These are the quitters who need more than a slap with a feather .... I don't really get on a plane and travel all over the world waving a heavy frying pan !!!! It's just another way of getting the message across.....

Happy Birthday, Tammy! Love them 40s!!! Especially smoke free.

Happy Birthday Tammy.

We have all sorts of love here. Tough love, cuddly love and everything in-between. This is the beauty of the QTrain. Support comes in many guises and it is only an individual's preference. People can take what they need and leave the rest. We all want the best for eachother and communicate that in our own honest and individual way. This is serious business, where a cuddly feel good vibe may not be effective when it comes to facing a ferocious and deadly addiction. Here is where the truth is essential and the truth is neither cuddly or tough. Truth has no opinion. It is just Truth. The groovy stuff happens in terms of support and recovery but, FIRST, Nicotine Addiction must be addressed without frills. I am curious to hear how @Sunshine59 is doing, after putting aside a long term addiction to nicotine gum. I wonder what he is experiencing and hope he shares this with us so, we can learn and other's may be inspired.

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just listened again and only heard laurel!

And I love and am grateful for each one of you...thank you dear @Sazerac. This is gonna make me fall asleep smiling.

We LOVE our Tammy !

Absolutely beautiful Tammy, I can't think of anything else to add

For me, it wasn't so much the frying pan as it was the threat of the frying pan. Just knowing it was there, hanging by a thread like the sword of Damocles, was added motivation to not do anything stupid. Fear the pan. Respect the pan.

-1 woo hoo, the crowd goes wild and the spanking in the fun room continues. Life is sweet.

And that's a touchdown for the chicks...WooHoo! 0

Wowowow Thank you so much guys for the amazing and not so subtle wishes (yes, looking at you Doreen :p). These wishes, though virtual are so full of love, humour and affection that it helped me celebrate the stay-at-home birthday. This wasn't absolutely the way I intended to celebrate my 40th, but then again, I shouldn't really be cribbing about it. Here's hoping soon enough, we can all raise a glass to getting back to the way things were, but not forgetting the lessons we've learnt so far. Thank you once again my QT family.

You are facing your nicotine addiction. Congratulations ! It isn't always easy, but this is nothing beyond your capability or your control. The side effects are normal and short term. You can power through this challenge, S. You needn't poison yourself with sugar while you deal with the poison of nicotine. Try deep breaths, exercise. Water with a lemon or slice of ginger etc. If you are drinking black tea, be mindful of Possible Changes In Caffeine Tolerance I don't know if you have quit the NRT Gum completely or are still using Prolonging Nicotine Withdrawal Your 'dullness' will abate. You are freeing yourself of addiction. Be kind to yourself.

The side effects from staying away from the gum ...is the the same as staying away from cigerettes. Withdrawal from nicotine .... It will take time to get it out of your system ....and one would expect a bout of feeling uncomfortable.... Chewing regular gum with a strong flavour ...after a few days you will get used to a different taste .. It's more safer than putting alot of sugar in to your system with diabetes..... We can only try and help you Sunshine ....the work has to come from you ....

NOPE

OK, something close to nyeñay