2014 Challenge

Starting again on the long and winding road...

checking in and not gambling

Hi All ~ Checking in this week on Day 55 of being gambling free today!!

Thanks Mama B for your kind thoughts & words ~ much appreciated!

And Mr B - an outstanding amount of effort and work since 1-1-4 and taking so many people on such a personal journey. No army can march without casualties on the way, but the actual war is won over time, not in one battle! People will return, they will drop under the radar, they will relapse, restart and maybe release themselves of the challenge because their personal war has been fought and won!

So please do nor feel disappointed at what are self imposed targets and stats ~ at the end of the day the final figures will be phenomenal even of only 30 or so soldiers make that midnight 31-12-14 target!!

Be proud and loud and sing as we march everyone and let those that would deny us of our pennies and sanity know they have lost!!

Personally, bad week just re-charging the emotional batteries at a time when I know I would have used gambling to relax [yeah right :)] or just retreat into my shell [more like it] so busy trying to ignore those urges and not snap at the OH!

Keep marching in time & tune everyone; welcome to all the new soldiers picking up the challenge and remember it is a team effort, we can't let Mr B take the weight alone, we share the pain and the gain :)!

Cheers all, Cliff

Checking in for the week! Been a bad week in work and am glad to have a couple of days off before another stressful week. Currently catching up on the Commonwealth Games which are being made into a superb event by the fans. Looks so good compared to the last games in Delhi or the Olympics in Beijing and the empty stadia. Its also nice to watch sport without a barrage of ads from gambling companies. Its a long time since I have seen Ray Winstone!

checking in on day 148

sad week but I am still gamble free and the terrible news didnt break me

Keep the fight and lovely week end to all of you

Julio

Hi everyone!!

Just over 48 hours to go and it's looking like a much healthier week already - mid twenties in terms of soldiers and it's great to see some of our missing comrades coming back to the ranks.

We've also got the potential for 2 new team members - there's a personal message for freeali and katyelphaba on the very first page of this thread with a couple of asks - it's down to you folks to confirm whether you're in or not! Thanks for looking us up though and katyelphaba - really well done on getting through the first week of recovery!!

Seems to have been a tough and emotional week in a number of fronts - Julio, sorry to hear you've had bad news, hope you and the family are ok. Flying Fox - good but not good to see you back.....I guess when someone drifts away the hope is that the reliance on the group or the site isn't required but that recovery continues - we're herd for you mate.

Strange - have a great holiday.......and I'll check you in next week.

Thanks to everyone who has posted messages of support and encouragement this week after my mini rant on Sunday. On reflection it probably wasn't the best way to write what I was meaning.......yes, I was a bit frustrated.........however, I'm far more proud of what we are achieving and I guess that never came across as strongly as I'd hoped!!

I'm off out in Glasgow tomorrow (call it a dress rehearsal for Dels night out!! You still up for it Del - drop me a text mate) to sample the Commonwealth atmosphere........but then Saturday is the big one.....tickets for Hampden Park to hopefully see Mr. Bolt!!! I'll be a bit quiet but still watching for those check ins!!

Be safe and be strong everyone........Mr Brightside checking in!!!

Checking in day 40. I honestly can't believe how long it's been since I had a bet really proud of myself and life just seems so much better 🙂 hope everybody has a great weekend.

Well it's been a tough week but I'm back and trying to fight this addiction once more.

I have found that once you slip it has been really hard to focus and overcome what I had done as you become a part of that vicious cycle of chasing money, secrecy, not knowing if your up or down and all the other things that we all know are a part of being a compulsive gambler like trying to win money to avoid paying things with your hard earned. It really did hit me hard.

I've just about come to terms with it though and once again i'm determined to beat this.

Looking at the positives i did manage 7 weeks which is great, I handed my notice in at work and found myself a cracking new job, something I don't think i would have done had i been gambling all the time. I have reduced my debt and i've been socialising and playing sport and running more.

Day 3 today, one day at a time, was an idiot for going back but what's done is done.

Have a good week everyone and thanks for the support MR B.

Checking in for the week. This was always a week I used to enjoy the Galway races are on here at Ireland and I used to go down to them and stay with friends. Used be 1 the highlights of the summer

But not anymore and tbh I've not missed them to much this week. I had the 2nd phase if interviews on Tuesday for a job I applied for so hopefully hear back from them soon be good to get out working as boredom is a terrible thing

I've found myself not coming on here as much the last few weeks but I'm aware that I'm getting near the 150 days mark which is when my last relapse happened so going to try to cone on more often the next few weeks

Checking in day 33. Glad to have got my first month clocked off, I now feel things are a bit more settled. Also now been paid for 1st time since the bad blip so I have a little spare cash so wont be constantly worried about hidden bills that could come and ruin me. Danger is now back to having money available could the gambling urges return? - hope not. Also really enjoying the Commonwealth games. Like mentioned earlier its good to watch competition and favourites win/lose etc without a barrage of changing odds or quotes of "the bookies will be glad" etc from so called impartial commentators. The more I see other sports the more I question my love of football. It will always be my main sport but I think its slowly getting ruined by all the money thats ploughed into it.

Hi, it's Elfie checking in on what I think is day 40. Been so busy, stag do last weekend (don't ask) and hen night tonight (I have been roped in to arrange the games) and wedding in 2 weeks. Not mine, my sister's so been tied up with the wedding preps with her. But I haven't gambled even though payday has been and gone and the money has been and gone to pay debts. I will be clear of financial worries one day but it will take time. I am prepared to wait just to live a normal life again.

Once all the wedding shenanigans are over I can catch up on posts and see how everyone is doing. Until then, keep up with the good work Mr B and fellow soldiers.

Remember - Life always offers you a second chance, it's called tomorrow.

Elfie

Hello all,

Checking in day 20. Been a very busy and stressful week trying to deal with the fallout of what me gambling has done to me and my family. Cannot afford to fall down again.

Well done to everyone.

Mark

Checking in for another gamble free week. Nothing much to report and looking I am forward to 4 weeks summer holidays starting today.

Have a great weekend.

Mike

Hi all, check in Day 148! Good luck!

Checking in on day 125, not had any urges or such so very happy about that. Good luck to everyone fighting on.