*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

Checking in on my 35th day gamble free

Morning Guru Challengers - Wishing everyone a good sunday - Abstainer The Elder checking in with 143 Days GF.

..... No more the fool, I'm gonna be cool ....

Check in on day 45. Philosophy being one day at a time.

Just checking in 338 days gf.
So Stephen - you also like a bit of Elkie Brooks with her husky voice!

Checking in for 121 days GF!!! Letsssss goooooo whoooooop whoooooop !

** GURU CHALLENGE - 7th WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***

It's Sunday 1^st October – time for our fortnightly rollcall!

As we enter a new month – and I rather like this time of year; autumnal sunsets, the leaves falling in their vibrant colours… still relatively mild – let’s see how we’re all getting on having hit the biggest temptation for many of us – payday. On the premise that it’s easy to stop when we’re skint, this is a big test from which there is no hiding.

I speak, like many of us, from bitter experience. There’s no sanctimony or pious sermon from me – I’ve been neck-deep with this gambling menace for years. Only now I’m I giving it my best shot ever, like all of us, doing anything to be free of this (which we can be, so long as we understand why it’s so bad for us, put comprehensive blockers in place, seek help and support where we can, and vow, daily if needs be, that today we won’t place one bet.) One bet is all it takes and the gambling devil will tempt us at any turn; it will make us find any excuse, however flimsy, to trip that switch.

Talking of practical steps, there are a host of things we can do straightaway. If you are able to deal any of the following (and there might be legitimate reasons why not), then – why not? Whilst in this world there is help out there, we have to help ourselves too. And if we’re not doing all we reasonably can ‘our end’, then, sadly, we might be limiting our chances of success – and fail.

1. Read a gambling self-help book. Allan Carr is recommended, and there are others. They are available on Kindle. Self-help books don’t work for everyone but there are always some words that will chime with you. And, who knows, might help to change or challenge your gambling mindset. If you’re not reading a book, for £3 .50 on Kindle, and there’s nothing stopping you, then – why?
2. Seeking counselling. There may be reasons why this isn’t possible; location/availability or it truly isn’t your thing. But if your true conscience knows it might be helpful to talk about things, what’s stopping you?
3. Passing control of your money supply to someone else. If you have a trusted friend, partner or family member who you know you will be only too happy to help, then why are you not protecting your finances? It’s not a sign of weakness, or emasculating for those chaps who think so – it’s a sign of strength. Worth considering?
4. Self-exclusion to bookies, casinos and online gaming. If it’s reasonable for you to do this, and you haven’t, then why not? Don’t rely on willpower. In fact, our willpower’s fantastic; it enables us to be very cunning as gamble when our spirits are weak! Hence why we need these defensive measures. Might this really help you ...?

Just 4 things on the top of my head. There are many more! Ok, on with the rollcall proper.

STATS FOR NERDS: We have 2 GURUs, 4 ELDERs, 6 STRIVERs and 6 NEWBIEs on the Challenge – 18 in total. No-one rested this week 🙂

ROLLCALL OF HONOUR!

Phil72 – 600 days – Not content with being a Guru, Phil has doubled-down with a fantastic 600 days gambling free under his belt. Our hearty congratulations Phil, and look forward to you reaching Triple Guru status, one day at a time, in due course! Bravo!

Chartom3 – 35 days – Our latest STRIVER joins the determined bunch gracing this echelon. A really great achievement breaking out of the NEWBIES. Next step ELDER!

Updates: Starting with our fellow GURU

Changemylife – 338 days - … Heading for a calendar year gambling free… doing just fine.

ELDERs

Degenerate – 187 days – Hitting half a year a few days back, steady as you sail Degen.

Abstainer – 143 days – Always a joy visiting your website Stephen with a different song selection pretty much every day! Keeping us all in tune.

ItMatters – 121 days – Love your post about Talksport – heavy sponsored by gambling – talking about responsible gambling. I reckon it was interesting picking the bones out of that, ItMatters.

Sars27 – 121 days - Keeping it real, keeping it fun! And who said gambling free doesn’t have to be fun (it can be, and is!)

STRIVERs

RubyBaby – 65 days – Checking in almost two-thirds on the way to ELDER status. You refer to the value of a support network and your strong family … putting solid foundations in place has to help.

Mixer – 51 days - In ‘Hawaii’ yesterday and a different ‘area’ today! Thank you for all your kind good wishes.

Amt722 – 45 – Your philosophy of one day at a time is spot on and, not just that, you’re choosing life, not misery. This is what it’s all about.

Raj – 43 – Haven’t heard from you Raj, hoping all is well with you, my friend.

Antics – 42 – Great to hear from you Antics and delighted you’re still on track for a better life that’s started, is happening and will continue to happen.

Chartom3 – 35 – Absolutely delighted to add you to the STRIVER ranks. It means you’re dealing with the big temptation – payday. Speaks volumes for you, Chartom, have no doubt whatsoever.

NEWBIES

Adam808 – 5 days – Last week you had a blip, were honest about it and have put in place immediate remedial action – what a great response Adam! Onwards and upwards I really sense.

4D – 25 – Setting goals to really cement your progress is a great idea. The gym is a great place to (re)focus your mind, and you may well find writing your stories on here surprisingly cathartic.

Athena1991 – 24 days – Bouncing back from your blip Athena, you have excluded yourself from your local arcades, in addition to the bookies, to ensure that the cunning side of your brain is increasingly thwarted of opportunity! Doing great.

Xenedra – 4 days – I’ve spent some time reading your diary Xenedra and know you’re really going through it. My goodness I’ve been there and I’m sure many of us too. You are really seeking solutions and from anywhere. You are back in the saddle again and you know can’t keep living like this. We are all SO with you.

Next Step – 14 days – You’ve seen your poker league through to completion, winning the pub trophy (congrats!) and have taken the interim measure of offering cash to anyone who sees you gamble. But now, poker over, it’s time for the next step. Simply telling yourself, day by day, you will not gamble. Temptation will always be lurking and now it’s time to bite the bullet – and knock the poker on the head. Your instincts will agree; this phase of your life needs to come to an end… don’t be sad, be happy .. that you’re moving on to a much happier, gambling-free, new phase.

Mark SNB – 10 days – Great to hear you’re looking into getting counselling. It’ll really help you! Do let us know how you’re getting on if you’d like to!

Let’s keep strong; keep sharing and keep strong!

Mixer and Athena, your hosts for this challenge

You're a good man Mixer. I (and I'm sure everyone else does) appreciate all this effort you put into this.

Stick at it everybody. We can do this togehter.

Thanks for all the work you put into running this challenge Mixer, always look forward to the Sunday rollcall.....wishing everyone a good gf week ahead 🙂

Damned fine post Mixer - you are so cool, helpful and kind. Maybe see you at 8.

Thank you Chartom, Phil... once again, congratulations on your deserved Rollcall of Honour citations tonight! 🙂

And thanks Adam for your comment too.

Let's all prepare for Monday. Let's make sure it's Gambling Free!

Thanks a lot mixer for ur continued faith and help it means a lot. Today marks the first day of October and the first day of recovery for me. I'm as you say giving up on my life of poker and starting a fresh. Stoptober is a very good place to start no drinking and no gambling for a month. This will put me in good stead. Day one completed roll on day two.

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Enjoyed reading the Sunday Rollcall Mixer, thankyou for all the hard work and effort you put into helping your GamCare friends, much appreciated.

Well spotted Changemylife; Elkie Brooks has got a bit of a nerve using my mantra for one of her songs !

Nextstep - let's make this the beginning of your new life. Day 4 today ... let's see you hit, day by day, the first target - double figures. Your friends will appreciate,respect and lke what you're doing.

Abstainer - gonna visit your very enjoyable diary very shortly and looking forward to playing your latest song choice 🙂

Just checking in. Day 9.

Reading your stuff on here helps alot I'm 44 now still going hopefully will keep going I admit still have those horrible thoughts but being happy over rides that