We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Open thread: What is the best thing you've ever done?

Make quitting smoking one of them.

EVERYONE HAS DONE something in their life that they can stand by and be proud of.

Maybe it was having your children, or getting your degree, or finally quitting smoking.

For some people, it could be something like moving city and getting a new lease on life.

It could be as small, but ultimately important, as getting back in contact with an old friend before it was too late. Or maybe it was travelling and getting to see the world.

We all do lots of positive things in our life, but sometimes you just know that one stand-out act, decision or event was a real game-changer.

Thousands of people are going to try to quit smoking this week – many will say afterwards that it was the best thing they’ve ever done. Help double your chances of success by signing up to a QUITplan on quit.ie, calling the Quitline on 1850 201 203, or joining the You Can Quit support group on Facebook.

HSE Ireland

What do you look back on and say, “You know what? That was the best thing I ever did”? Share your stories in the comments.

Close
118 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Byrne
    Favourite Mark Byrne
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:28 AM

    So we’re just normalising these people now?

    91
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 9:23 AM

    @Mark Byrne: who are you referring to? Spicer was just press secretary.

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 9:54 AM

    William Joyce was hanged.

    9
    See 10 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 9:54 AM

    Hung?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:10 AM

    @Larry Doyle: who did he work for again?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:32 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: An elected politician in Germany with odd hair, love of the military, who used the people’s fear of “others”, who also didn’t drink or smoke, who initially made friendly overtures to Russia, who craved the adulation of large crowds, who looked on other country’s defences and declared they were not spending enough on them, who promoted a tougher and more violent police force, who liked to live in a very elevated dwelling to look down on everyone else, who’s health is shrouded in secrecy, who was surrounded in government by generals, who …………

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 11:15 AM

    @Larry Doyle: so just to be clear you’re comparing him to a nazi propagandist and Trump to Hitler. Come on man. It’s ridiculous comments like that that make people question all opposition to Trump.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thomas Maher
    Favourite Thomas Maher
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 11:47 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: actually not that ridiculous there are more than one or two parallels. That can be drawn. Have you ever read an actual transcript of one of his speeches.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 12:54 PM

    @Dave O Keeffe: I’m so disappointed to see you succumb to Godwin’s Law in bringing up Hitler and the Nazis, but if even you see parallels to other leaders who also love a peaked hat and are of German descent it exposes your subconscious belief in reality over dogma and right wing talking points.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Flood
    Favourite Martin Flood
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 1:00 PM

    @Larry Doyle: “hanged” is correct.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 2:12 PM

    Thanks Martin.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 4:21 PM

    @Larry Doyle: eh, you compared Spicer to an actual nazi propagandist (you envoked Godwin) You’ve also massively misjudged my comments and my beliefs. You seem more interested in points scoring than actually having a discussion.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 4:42 PM

    You assert that I am only interested in point scoring over debate yet it was you who referred to my comment as “ridiculous “. Is that the type of debate you crave?

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute María Eugenia Baiardi
    Favourite María Eugenia Baiardi
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:34 AM

    That was hilarious! You’ve gotta laugh at yourself after working for the Orange menace. Either that or hide.

    78
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Eamonn Sheen
    Favourite Eamonn Sheen
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:26 AM

    He’s a celebrity now?

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan
    Favourite Alan
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:29 AM

    @Eamonn Sheen: the biggest celebrity ever. In the U.S. and around the world. Period.

    156
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Reg
    Favourite Reg
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:39 AM

    I’m glad spicy can laugh at himself now. It’s a pity he didn’t realise what a complete fool he was making of himself sooner.

    53
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute meatyslaps
    Favourite meatyslaps
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:59 AM

    @Reg: He probably knew already, but I’m sure the pay was good enough to get past it!

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 9:24 AM

    @meatyslaps: not just that, he’s a Republican asked to serve the president. Americans take that very seriously.

    26
    See 4 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 9:56 AM

    @Dave O Keeffe: Maybe Trump should too.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:02 AM

    @Larry Doyle: he probably thinks he is

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute OU812
    Favourite OU812
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:03 AM

    @meatyslaps: $168,000 per annum but it’s what it brings you afterwards speaking engagements, book royalties commentators fees etc

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lucille Ball
    Favourite Lucille Ball
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 1:14 PM

    @Reg: id say he probably did Reg!

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ianglen
    Favourite ianglen
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 8:29 AM

    Melissa McCarthy didn’t look too impressed

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry morcom
    Favourite Barry morcom
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:37 AM

    @ianglen: same way i look after watching one of her films unsurprisingly..

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Belton
    Favourite John Belton
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 12:43 PM

    I believe that the (absent) star of the night was Trump.
    Trump, Trump, Trump was all that was talked about all night.
    Do they not realise how alienating this is to those outside their narrow, privileged circle.
    Counter productive or what? I hope so, just to see them fume even further.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 1:04 PM

    @John Belton: In fairness they were laughing at trump more than fuming over anything he is trying and failing to do.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave O Keeffe
    Favourite Dave O Keeffe
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 4:22 PM

    @John Belton: you watched it though so well done you

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute methodical2020
    Favourite methodical2020
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:00 AM

    Just highlights how these Americans are so mainstream media controlled and pathetic when they have platforms like this to voice their opinion on Trump.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 10:37 AM

    How Dare They Have Opinions! Who do they think they are ? It’s as if they have some kind of Free Speech Rights.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sideshow Brendan
    Favourite Sideshow Brendan
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 11:23 AM

    @Larry Doyle: would you be saying the same if there was a parody mocking Obama or Hillary?

    10
    See 3 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 1:01 PM

    @Sideshow Brendan: Of course I would, I think you are confusing me with the Trumpian “snowflakes” who are constantly whining about anything said about the big orange baby in the White House and are obsessed with politicians of the past such as Hilary Clinton and President Barrack Obama.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute meatyslaps
    Favourite meatyslaps
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 1:33 PM

    @Sideshow Brendan: SNL parody everyone. The actress who parodied Hillary Clinton won an award too

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sideshow Brendan
    Favourite Sideshow Brendan
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 2:19 PM

    @Larry Doyle: thats fair enough Larry, so long as you hold equal standards for all you won’t hear me complain again

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emmet Dillane
    Favourite Emmet Dillane
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 2:59 PM

    My God, you’d seriously have to question the mental state of these people.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Larry Doyle
    Favourite Larry Doyle
    Report
    Sep 18th 2017, 4:46 PM

    @Emmet Dillane: For once I agree with you Spicer is quite unhinged and is now byword for craven hypocrisy and unjustified self regard.

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.