2014 Challenge

Evening everyone,

Seems to have been a tough day for the thread and the team........a few comments to make.........

Firstly and most importantly to 2 of our team members faced with challenges both today and this week......

Adam - you DONT have to leave the thread or the team, yes your tally changes, but you simply learn, do the things you've done and try to go one day at a time. Nothing has changed and hopefully good will have come out of it for you, but also a warning for the rest of us.......a silver lining. Giving yourself a hard time isn't a bad thing, but you aren't going to get a hard time from any of your comrades here. It's your call mate, but if being part of this can help, then don't walk away.

Rst18 - never thought I'd hear myself say this.......but I really hope that you catch the flu or a 24 hour sickness bug or something so you can't go! Please try to think of a way so that you don't transact, or even better, explain to your girlfriend where you're at. It's a real dilemma you're in mate, I get that and I hope you won't walk from the team. I get the online concern, but really hope you don't get sucked back in for the sake of a few quid. I really appreciate you understanding. I so badly want us all to keep going.

Mo - early days sir, but learn from the relapse, understand the triggers and try again. It's not a one size fits all. Strengthen your defenses and start over. You're always welcome here.

Lou (lec101) - great to see you girl, I never thought for a second you'd have fallen......I can still feel your footsteps a day behind - you're my stopping buddy and I'd hunt you down!! That's brilliant about the counseling too! All good buddy! 🙂

Here's the thought for today.......and it's making me nervous..........

There's a lot of us who I'd imagine are just about to get paid for the first time in a good few weeks. Cash in the bank, temptation abound........what are you doing to build the barriers to reduce your risk? Complacency has to come at some point for all of us too. This forum is full of fabulous one liners.........and phrases. One of my favorites I think comes from Rainman who signs off on our and his diaries with "guard up". Simple but so effective we need to keep our collective and individual guards up right now.

Our target for this week everyone is to hit the number we hit last week.....881 days. It's going to take a huge effort for all of us to be checked in and clean, but we can do it - with Lou checked in, el producto checked in, and 19x7 days available to us, we could actually break through the 900 day mark........how awesome would that be? It's in our collective hands.

Finally......many thanks for all the really humbling comments, they are both embarrassing and appreciated in equal measures! I am thoroughly enjoying undertaking the thread - it's you guys doing all the hard work.

We're all coming out of our cages, and you know we are all doing just fine........one day at a time......we are the Brightsides!!!

Mr B at 45 days checking in and checking out for tonight!!

Thanks Mr b for your comments, im going to stick with the challenge as I feel it helps a lot, feeling a lot more positive, I have made it to 130+ days and can do so again.

Adam

Hey everyone

Day 44 for me today! I hope everyone can stay strong this weekend and remember that old motto- " I cannot win because I cannot stop"

I'm thinking of having it tattooed on my head x

XXX

Linda

Afternoon everyone. I placed a £5 football bet on Saturday. Nothing more nothing less and felt no emotion to the loss. I know i have now reset my day count but it was a long thought out decision and if you read my diary you will see where i am heading on my journey. I may leave this thread for a while as i dont feel it right to be posting about having gambled, just not to the extent at which was ruining my life. Keep up the good work Mr B and everyone involved i read most posts everyday as its helping immensely in my recovery.

Mr b is right temptation is out there but be strong, my favorite one liner which I replay in my head is

IF I DON'T GIVE UP I CANNOT FAIL...

Del 164 GF days 🙂

Hi everyone

I would say that it seems everyone is finding it very tough this week. I would say it's probably down to it being the 3rd week in January, as its hard enough for non gamblers what with debt left from Xmas and still a week for most till payday. It's even harder for those of us who still believe that we can win our way out of the problem by betting.

If we now go back to gambling Feb will be as bad as Jan and March worse still and so on so dig deep and battle through.

For those that are struggling bad just remember this will be the last Jan that is hard. Keep up the good work and stay well away and you will see the benefits not just financially but knowing you are strong enough to do this!

Clean for 14 x

Linda

Mr bright side please add me to your list. I need an incentive to visit this site daily too many slip ups.

Day 26 and NO Gambling 🙂

Haven't been posting in my Diary much this week but I'm still here and still going strong 🙂

Must admit I was tempted yesterday, was feeling down but managed to resist, it's the first really strong urges that I've had since starting my journey to recovery and a reminder that I have to keep my 'guard up'.

It's my weekend on duty at work, 12hour shifts Sat,Sun,Mon so won't have the time or the energy to do anything else........

Stay strong everyone...

We cannot win because we cannot stop....no point in starting then 🙂

Take Care of yourselves and be proud of every gamble free day achieved!

M x

Day 27 and keeping going, just got paid so a little itchy and urges appearing. As mo says "I can not win because I can not stop"

We are all due to be paid soon so lets all be strong and not get tempted. I have done 38 days and had a great January. I want another 11 great months and we all need to think how good we will feel on NYE if we complete the challenge and our lives will be so much better!

Evening everyone

It really has been a tough week huh?

There's a couple of more days for checking in, so please be encouraging those that you see have been missing this week when they are posting on their diaries.

While we've had disappointments as a group and seen some of our team struggle, let's not lose heart, we have so much to fight for, one day, one team, many individuals all wanting the same thing, for ourselves and each other. We are doing so so well.

One week today will be the last day of January - I have never gone a full calendar month for as long as I can remember without gambling in some way, shape or form. How many of us are in the same place? Forget 100 days, or 2014, or a year etc. Right now, focus on Saturday 25th, then Sunday 26th and so on......Saturday 1st Feb is my next milestone and that's as far as I can see just now.

I posted on a diary a few weeks ago and it still rings true for me today.........

I am looking at this journey like driving from Glasgow to London at night. If my headlights are on then I might be able to see a hundred or so yards in front of me. If I keep my eyes looking forward and I can see new road appearing all the time and I can always see that hundred or so yards then I will eventually get to London safely. Who knows, it may even get light at some point on the journey and I will fully appreciate everything that is around about me. However, if I continue to stare in the rear view mirror at what's been behind me and fail to see the dangers in front then I will eventually crash into the ditch. Eyes forward, see as far as you can see, stay safe......and we'll get there.......even though we can't see that far in front at times.

ron81 - I'm sad to see your posts this week and that you've gambled when doing so well. I think you'll probably know in your heart of hearts that it's got to be all or bust. But you rightly say that it's your journey and you need to discover the right path for you, whatever that may look like. One of the things I love about the forum is that only very very rarely does anyone 'judge' someone in recovery and point blank say what is a right path or a wrong path - we have to find our own way. I do agree with you though that unless there is complete abstinence, your days tally would never be higher than a few days if putting on even a small bet on a football coupon - this challenge has to be totally clean in its tally. However, let me be clear, I want you here as a totally clean recovering CG as will every single one of your team mates. Have a think about it and if it's right for you then abstain and stay, but if not, then I'm sure I'd speak on everyone's behalf in saying good luck for your journey and don't be a stranger.

Let's keep going everyone, those difficult days are ahead, but also behind. You've done the hard graft with the ones behind so focus your attention and energy in tomorrow - you can always influence that!

I'll be back on track on a Sunday with the weekend update, but in the meantime, have a great, clean weekend and stay strong.

Mr Brightside - 47 days clean

Hey everyone, just checking in 3 days clean

Adam

Checking in after another clean week... 26 days clean in total now.

I got paid yesterday, and the urges are coming thick and fast. I just need to keep distracted, busy myself.

Checking in for day 2 x

hi everyone

quick check in on day 46 for me xxx

linda