*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

Day 15 and thanks for the weekly roll call. I'm pleased to be still on track and staying gamble free. Don't want to waste another penny or another minute of my life chasing money I've lost.

Checking in, made it through another day

Day 17 check in. I must admit things are better for me now. But i constantly think about how the next year will be.

Good going everyone on the challenge. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for checking in, everyone. Payday soon; so even more reason to be strong and remember what this is all about. Living a much, much better life. Not living guaranteed misery. Are we men (or women), or mice?

I know the answer. You know the answer. We're doing this, and doing it properly. Don't let yourselves down.

Would you be letting me, a totally anonymous stranger who happens to be hosting a 'Challenge' on here, down, too?

Yes, you would.

I would be disappointed. Because I care. It matters!

(P.S. TomS - welcome to the Challenge. Great to have you aboard!)

Hey Mixer..I’ve not started gambling..getting bonus emails but no urge at all. Started going to the gym before work..really helps. Only thought of regrets but moving on from this.

Raj - delighted to hear your update; delete any bonus e-mails right away, remember - gambling's no good!

*** New Challenge! ***

Eagle-eyed forum watchers will have noticed a new challenge has appeared - the Christmas Challenge! It's run by Neveragain2016 (previously 30thSept) who ran the 3 month challenge earlier in the year. He's a good chap - and you'll read from his bio his intent and what matters to him. And with 400 days gambling-free and counting, he recognises the importance of a continued, resolute, gambling-free strategy.

I think the Christmas Challenge is a great idea; all you need to do is post "I'm in" or similar, post an update once a week, and strive to become gambling free for Christmas (the challenge concludes on 31st Dec). Can you do it? Of course .. and beyond - but one day at a time, with manageable milestones.

I thoroughly recommend it - I'm in! Why not join, another boost to our gambling-free amoury!

And lets not forget the grand-daddy of the Challenges, the pre-eminent 2017 Challenge. Run for many years, this is the long-term beasty to which we all aspire. You'll see some people with years of valuable gambling-free life behind them, yet they still recognise the importance of keeping those safeguards in place, one day at a time. I'm a member of that too!

Just for once, just for once - let's have the Christmas we, and our long-suffering loved ones and friends, deserve, eh? It's not just the money side of it, it's the person we want to be, and the person we want others so see. Let's be happier, much happier and roll with life's punches in a far positive, constructive way without the overhead of ceaseless, stress-inducing, wallet-sapping betting. Sod the bloody gambling. Consign it to history.

This was a previous phase of our lives; we've grown out of it now (and, bearing in mind I'm 48, it's taken me a while).

Onwards we go!

Mixer

Congratulations on your healthy 68 days gf. You show such positivity and understanding in the fight against this addiction.

Also your support for others is invaluable, especially for those who come to this forum without a purposeful direction or action plan.

Keep up the good work and just remember to take some time out for yourself - we all need a bit of 'Me Time'.

Changemylife - thank you for your kind words. I'm monitoring your GF total, actually, you seem to be approaching an interesting milestone 🙂

Rest assured I'm taking plenty of 'time out' - I only post 2 or 3 times a day, generally, and my weekly update on Sunday takes me half an hour or so (it's all automated!). And whilst I attend most Chatrooms I really enjoy meeting and talking to others, it's very cathartic.

A fellow recovering gambler here on the forums recently hit 1 year, but sadly had a blip the next day (but resolutely back in GF mode now!). I hope you have a plan to sail through your milestone, WHEN you hit it, and beyond, changemylife 🙂

I wish you, as always, all the very best, changemylife.

CHRISTMAS STARTS HERE.

Thank you everyone who has checked in and commented over the last few days; all read, noted and shared with our group - all adds to our resolve!

For many of us, payday's coming.

But, remember, as recovering gamblers, gambling-free one day at a time, it's just another day.

So don't be fazed by it, don't feel you have to waste all of the money ... because you don't.

For once, let us ALL on the Guru challenge not spend a penny on gambling.

Now, I'm gong to say the C word. Yup, Christmas; usually a depressing time of year because we are normally skint.

This year will be different. Whilst some of us might not be exactly rolling in cash, what with debts that need paying, we'll have more 'spare'.

Which means a better Christmas for ourselves and loved ones, showing we care about them, too.

A nicer Christmas dinner? Sorted? A few extra treats? Sorted. Excuses for delivering another c**P Christmas? Not this year.

Ok, payday coming up. Let's see what we're all made of!

And seriously consider joining the Christmas Challenge 🙂

Mixer

I gambled. I'm back at 0 days.

Hi Slot Fool - as Ineffable has said, we've all been there. Having means to money, and availability to gambling, leads to this when the spirit is weak and the gambling demon spots a way through. It's time to revisit your armoury, and plug the gaps.

Ineffable - it's very tough when we start out. But you're more than hanging in there. Do you care? Yes... so keep it going 🙂

I'm in 10 days GF come on people we can make this now

Day 19, checking in. feeling good. today will be attending my GA meeting as normal and staying GF. All the best to everyone.

Geo - excellent; really great to read. Doing really well my friend.

Wallywierd - I'm liking your sentiment; want to join the Challenge 🙂

Now... I've had a bit of a blow today; my job role's changing and I'm going to take a financial bit - quite a big one (-£10k)

Now, I have to remember that life is going to throw stuff at me whatever. But being gambling free I can deal with it better, rather than making it worse.

Am I allowed to be P*ssed off? Hell, yeah. I am. It's a blow. And I'm going to have a pint or two. But not gamble. Or drink too much. And I'll bear in mind my loved ones; it's not their fault and shouldn't bear the brunt of how I'm feeling.

Mixer

Thanks, Ineffable; I really appreciate that mate. I, like you, am a "No Bull**** Bertie"; I always say it as it is. But, like everybody else in these difficult times, we have to get on with it and steer a path through. It really is a dog eat dog world, that is the brutal reality, which I accept.

Thank goodness I stopped gambling when I did. Is there ever a good time? Yes, there is, everyone: NOW. Why make whatever life throws at you - and it will - worse?

Ineffable; thank you once again.