2014 Challenge

Good evening everyone!!

In our journey towards 2015 and the steps we are individually and collectively taking towards recovery, we've had good days on this Challenge, we've had bad days and we've had some pretty indifferent days.....and then there's been today.......which I think has been my favorite day of any of them so far.......

......extraordinary things are happening -

- new soldiers joining us and posting daily

- we have had a loser turning into a winner (loving the new name LIFESWINNER!!)

- wounded soldiers are coming back to us and are stronger

- our community grows stronger with every post

- there is an energy today like I've never felt before

- people are talking about pride!

- only our 3rd soldier ever has reached a 200 day milestone today and in the 199 days that have gone before it has more than half his debt - congratulations Scambling - it's a privilege to witness your journey and be part of it

- time is being spent on productive things.....families are rejoined, gardens are tidy, weekends are being looked forward to for things other than gambling!!!

- faith is being restored, step by step, day by day

- friendships are being forged........I received an email today from a previous soldier who is still going strong - a wonderfully positive message, telling me they had met with two other new friends they met on this site - they were buzzing!!!

- holidays are being enjoyed, the past is being accepted and the future is a possibility (amazing post NoCrisis!!! Can you email me and let me know where in Scotland you are - we could maybe meet and you could get all the things off your chest that you've wanted to download on someone?)

- renewed determination is coming through....something new, something fresh......Mo, this is your time girl!!

- the end of the month arrives and soldiers have actually got money left in accounts......it will come for the rest of us too!!

- ........and the greatest, most extraordinary thing of all.......Luckygirl has checked in before 9.00am on a Sunday morning!!! Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

To use Joanna's analogy......we do have soldiers who are bloodied and bruised on a beach right now, waiting for their stronger brothers and sisters to land ashore and help them. Despite the most positive day I've ever experienced on this thread, I can't help but worry about Spaingone and Stephen - your day will come guys - do not leave us, we will carry you to safety and support you through - please post guys.

It's a joy to serve you guys on this thread. Thankyou all for allowing me the pleasure of facilitating and for helping me so massively in my recovery.

Mr VeryveryveryBRIGHTside!!!

Hello Mr Brightside

It's me confirming that I am committed to stopping gambling and so very much want to be one of your soldiers. Everything is in place, block on PC, the offending iPad on loan to my grandson and finances handed over. It will be a long time before loans are paid off and I am financially OK again but much better than giving my money away by gambling. I do know that the day will come when temptations are again put in my way but have the hope that by then I will have the strength to battle through.

I have been reading the posts here and am overwhelmed by the support and encouragement given by you and fellow posters. I never thought I would find anyone who understands the problem and I am so grateful I have found this site. It is the start of day 3 for me, a mere rookie compared to the rest of you but we all have to start somewhere.

Baggins has been a great support to me from the moment I joined these forums and I am so grateful to her for welcoming me.

Also I am so impressed by your soldiers commitment and encouragement, it means a lot to me not to be alone any more.

Thank you all so much.

Elfie.

Mr Brightside...just seen your update you may be right about mebeing on the challenge before but I can't remember everything becomes a whirl and blur when you are Compulsively gambling on and off...

Anyway i've put so much effort into recovery so far and my self esteem is starting to increase and anxiety to reduce.

The temptations and urges are sometimes there but as long as i don't place that first bet I have control and by deciding each day at a time I will not gamble the days are becoming weeks and almost a month.

No longer living a secret chaotic double life or feeling shameful and low and i'm a soldier ready for battle. This is my best attempt at recovery so far and i want to see the back of gambling for good.

Thanks for the support, Good luck to everyone recovery is all yours if you want it enough.

Garthcrooks aka (Adam) Day 27 today.

Day 27 just checking in - good luck to everyone and stay strong

Checking in a bit early as have a very busy weekend planned! Day 22 today for me

I must add that it was a great analysis by Mr B, and some surprising demographics. It just goes to prove that this illness can strike anyone, anywhere and does not discriminate against age; s*x; geographical location or a persons roots.

Anyway - Gamble free for 22 days and marching forward to a gamble free future, abstaining by choice, one day at a time. And happy to be a part of the troop as it feels like you are not marching alone.

Stay strong everyone and keep up the march. Kind regards, Cliff

Hi Mr B - not sure how else to contact you, and apologies for posting this here if not appropriate! Just to let you know I am away next week and won't be able to check in or post after Sunday and wont be back in time before Sat PM deadline, so can you please post on my behalf. By my calculations, it will be Day 31 for me on Sat 5th July! Many thanks, Cliff

Hi all

Day 6 was a nightmare with a pay packet to play with but still clean going onto day 7 now:), sorry for posting at all times of the day it's just I work shifts:/ hope I'm not breaking any rules?:s

Unaitsert

Hi All

checking in for day 113

feel good and still going strong

nice week end for all the soldiers

keep the good work

Stephen. 2 days free from gambling.

Hi all.

Checking in and saying hi.

Been away from the forum for a while due to work.. kept in touch with Mr B via email.

I'm unwell at the moment, but staying gamble free, in fact gambling couldn't be further from my mind at the moment as there is other stuff rattling around in there which is probably for the best.

Hope you are all having a great day and speak soon.

Laura

Good afternoon everyone.

Checking in on day 20 I believe? Came to the realisation of my money problems today after a very sleepless night last night thinking about it all. Payday Monday for me so most of my months wage is going out to pay debts and I'll be abit short on money for a few months until I'm free again.

Onwards and upwards, my 21st next week and when I started this challenge, my first goal was to get to my birthday gamble free and I'm nearly there. Can't wait to get into a new year for me with a clear head and free from the madness!

Have a good weekend guys and gals

Checking in day 6 and I'm struggling really really bad does it get any easier? I can't even trust myself to go for a few drinks incase it weakens me and I gamble I feel really pethetic. Why can't I just decide I ain't gambling and that be the end of it? I don't think I can go on like this forever. Sorry about the depressing post everybody hope your all doing ok and hope you all have a gamble free weekend.

Matty,

Yes the urges will get less the longer you stay gamble free. You say your struggling... just think 'ok so i want a bet, well im gonna want a bet tomorrow irrespective of whether i bet right now and im gonna want a bet the day after even if i have a bet tomorrow instead of right now, so ive got a choice... have a bet every day and the feelings i have are STILL gonna be with me but at least if I dont actually gamble my finances are gonna be healthy and its just a case of dealing with one problem (wanting to gamble) rather that 2 problems (wanting to gamble AND being P***** off about the lack of money CAUSED by the first problem!!'

Probably didnt explain very well what i was trying to get across.

Stay strong soldier!!!

I get what your say mate ( I think lol ) thanks for taking the time to reply mate.

Hey folks!!

It's the weekend!! Woop woop!!...........

But for some of us it's "Danger Day".........a day to be feared, a day to be wary of, a day that tests even the strongest of resolves..........but a day that each one of us at some point......Stephen, Matty, Unaitsert......even you guys........will grow to love..... it's pay day!!! Today I watched my amazing accountant reduce my debt to new lows.......I am now paying not a penny interest on my debt.......it's nearly halfed in the last six months and by December 31st this year I should have paid off the other 9k. 2015 is the start of my new financial life!! For those of you who are doubting the benefits of stopping gambling - the financial aspects are just a part of it.......the emotional, spiritual and mental benefits are worth so much more........it's worth the pain, it's worth the torment and it DOES get easier.......don't get me wrong, it never goes away.......but time strengthens your coping mechanisms and shows you the value of a gamble free life. If you doubt it, then you'll just have to try it.......stop and see........if it's not bringing benefits then just start gambling again.......but none of you will!!

We've got 15 soldiers we're waiting on returning safely, but it's great to see Stephen checking in and hopefully we'll see Spaingone join us too. Of course, it's just as important to see the rest of the team checking in too, but the guys I've just mentioned have struggled this week and I believe they need to be with us and vice versa. Just over 24 hours for everyone to appear!!

Elfie and Matty - brilliant that you've taken the plunge and made the commitments to be with us for the war - individual battles will be own and together we will be victorious!!

Unaitsert - there ain't no rules on when you post or how many times you post on the challenge fella - in fact the more the merrier as far as I'm concerned!! As long as you post once in a week before midnight on a Saturday with your official check in then you're sorted - oh, and gamble free of course!!

Wolf57 - thanks for letting me know about the holiday - I'll check in on your behalf next week! Have a great time soldier!!

ToBeOrNot - Laura - please don't underestimate how great it is to see you here again.......you've been missed......badly. You know where we are if you need us - on any of the fronts you are battling right now. We've got good ears!

Busy day again tomorrow so I'll only be updating the front page at points over the day - be safe troops and the update will be on on Sunday!!

Mr B - checking in on day 201!! Cageless - lol!!

PS HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCKY GIRL!!!