Checking in for the week! Hope everyone is doing good. Thanks mixer for all your work on this thread x
Keep up the good work you're just a honest man giving good advise. Last week I had a lovely fam hol in Wales I was playing the 2p machines like all my family to win toys. I spent couple of pounds and I'm not classing it to stop my gf days as I never abused my bank like previously and there was no addiction am I right I'm on 67 days
Thank you Velvet and 4D for your kind comments. Delighted you're keeping GF... its all that matters. Everything gets better simply by being GF!
Christer, I'm delighted you're enjoying your break in Wales. 2p pushers don't count, they're a bit of fun!
I'm in Jersey right now on a short break too. Not too expensive, and my little boy is having a lovely time - all gambling free. He is getting 100% attention from his old man - priceless.
Rollcall later - this evening; when I'm back home!!!!
Mixer wrote:
Thank you Velvet and 4D for your kind comments. Delighted you're keeping GF... its all that matters. Everything gets better simply by being GF!
Christer, I'm delighted you're enjoying your break in Wales. 2p pushers don't count, they're a bit of fun!
I'm in Jersey right now on a short break too. Not too expensive, and my little boy is having a lovely time - all gambling free. He is getting 100% attention from his old man - priceless.
Rollcall later - this evening; when I'm back home!!!!
Whereabouts in Jersey are you, Mixer? We go there every year for a couple of weeks in July. Beautiful place...
Checking in day 63 stiil gf super busy at the moment which always helps
Mixer wrote:
Thank you Velvet and 4D for your kind comments. Delighted you're keeping GF... its all that matters. Everything gets better simply by being GF!
Christer, I'm delighted you're enjoying your break in Wales. 2p pushers don't count, they're a bit of fun!
I'm in Jersey right now on a short break too. Not too expensive, and my little boy is having a lovely time - all gambling free. He is getting 100% attention from his old man - priceless.
Rollcall later - this evening; when I'm back home!!!!
family time u can't beat it especially as ur not checking results and getting stressed like I used to
Hope you enjoyed your break Mixer !
And glad to hear you had a nice break mixer
** GURU CHALLENGE - 10th WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***
It's Sunday 29th October – welcome back everyone.
I don’t know about you but the extra hour in bed hasn’t done anything for me, so as tired as ever. Possibly because my little boy woke me up at 5am this morning, instead of 6am. When he says “Wakey Wakey!” that’s the end of it. So no extra hour in bed – but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
And being gambling-free I realise the importance of life and little things such as this; the importance of others, even more so now. And I’m sure I speak for all of us. Let’s remember, and never forget, we don’t have to gamble. We know it’s bad for us. I know I repeat this message, but it’s true, and it’s important we all realise it. Never mind we’re all bad at gambling – no dissenters there…! – it’s a waste of time, too.
Talking of time. When I was younger, say 20, I thought I’d live forever. A yawning long life stretching out ahead of me… and then I was 30. Ah. Nearly ‘half way’ to the traditional ‘score and ten’ (70). And then 40 – “life begins”. Well, over half-way through, actually, so I increased my likely life expectancy to 80 to make me feel better. Now I’m 48, nearly 50 – and acutely aware of the passage of time and realizing I don’t want to spend what’s left (who knows what’s round the corner – a runaway No. 37 bus…?) gambling it away, my family and friends, disadvantaged by a more miserable, skint, guilty, skulking ‘me’. Never mind giving myself a life of misery…
Whatever our age, now’s a very good time to stop…take it from me and many other slightly-older (!) fellow abstainers here (including Abstainer himself, of course, a most enjoyable and thoughtful diary there if you haven’t read it). In fact, now’s the best time, the only time, to stop. We are all recovering compulsive gamblers and always will be. Let’s have the maturity, the sense, the consideration, the respect for ourselves and others, to stop. Forever.
Does it take willpower? Yes and No. Not if you realise that choosing between misery and a much better life isn’t really a choice. Willpower’s not necessary, because you can relax you’re living the right life. You don’t have to gamble and, every day, just remind yourself. Stress-free! Thinking about gambling? Then do so – don’t hide the thoughts - but feel elated, happy that you’re not doing this pathetic waste of time and money any more. Would you have won that bet you’d otherwise have put on today? Probably. But two out of three times you’d have lost. Who’s the winner? YOU!
Remember ... this is all in our HEADS.
On with the Challenge. Which of the three ‘Rs’ are you this week? Let’s find out…
WELCOME BACK!
Moorey631986 – It’s always great when one of our fellow Challengers returns and it’s a delight to have you back in the fold Moorey. On Day 7, you’re ready to give this some real welly and let’s see you live that gambling free life. Let’s see you hit Striver- nothing less will do; you know that. (By the way, you asked where I stayed in Jersey this weekend – St Saviour, just outside the capital St. Helier. Like you, I love Jersey and visit regularly. Last time stayed in St Ouen, on the quieter west side. How about you, what's your favourite place on this lovely island?)
ROLLCALL OF HONOUR!
Changemylife – 366 days – Hearty congratulations from all of us for hitting 1 year gambling free! It’s tremendous, that – dealing with whatever a rolling four seasons has thrown at you! You are rightly aware of hitting milestones and the ‘pressure’ of it all, but I know you’re ready for it. And your song choice is an excellent one to make the occasion – ‘Dear Life’ by Beck.
Adam808 – 33 days – You’ve hit STRIVER – the most important milestone – and that is terrific! A whole month, including a payday, safely navigated. Something to build on and we all wish you our very best wishes.
Xenedra – 32 days – Another new STRIVER! This is fantastic and after a bumpy start to the Challenge – hey, we’ve all been there! – you’ve come back fighting. You care, and it shows. Congratulations!
NEW CHALLENGERS!
A warm welcome to Mayfair Ave – here’s to your every success on this Challenge.
STATS FOR NERDS: We have 2 GURUs, 5 ELDERs, 11 STRIVERs and 12 NEWBIEs on the Challenge – 30 in total
Our GURUs
Phil72 – 628 days – ROCKING! Those Stepchange payments soon almost paid off; but I know you’re prepared for when it is, Phil.
Changemylife – 366 days – ROCKING! Not content with a year GF, you’ve hit a leap year for good measure J
ELDERs
Degenerate – 215 days – ROCKING! Understandably wanting to quickly build on this total but it’s totally healthy to want more of this … it’s a better life, after all, even if it doesn’t seem like it at times.
HowDidIGetToThis – 189 days – ROCKING! Not content with last week’s half year, another fantastic milestone homes into view…
Abstainer – 171 days – ROCKING! My favourite diary and you are heading towards the half-year, Stephen, one day at a time, as always!
ItMatters – 149 days – ROCKING! As you say: “When life gives you lemons, drink lemonade”. Yup, we must always roll with the punches. We can duck (and dive!) better gambling free.
Sars27 – 149 days - ROCKING! And heading towards half a guru status. As Queen sang: “Don’t stop me now!” and I reckon that sentiment speaks for you, Sars, my man!!
STRIVERs
RubyBaby – 93 days – ROCKING! Whisper it but you’re storining it Rubybaby. So looking forward to next week. Meantime, one determined day at a time…
Christer1 – 68 days – ROCKING! Thank you Christer, I enjoy my break. Also enjoying seeing you chalking up a solid total here. Keep it going, my friend.
Mixer – 79 days – ROCKING! No choice is it –misery or life?
Raj – 71 days – ROCKING! You’ve been quiet for a spell…. I hope everything’s Ok, Raj!
Amt722 – 73 – ROCKING! It’s been 3 weeks Amt722, gonna have to rest you next week if you’re still off the radar. I know you’re reading this. If you have fallen off, then don’t worry … we understand and have all been there. It’s how we respond, right. So, do let us know. We’re all with you mate. Gambling is a cowsun.
Antics – 70 – ROCKING! Gulp. You’ve gone quiet too Antics… likewise, do let us know you’re Ok. We’re on your side, and if you’ve slipped, do tell us. We are more than ready to gee you up again. No judgement, we have all been there. We all support each other.
Chartom3 – 63 – ROCKING! Excellent “score on the doors” Chartom. Really pleased you enjoyed your break just gone. Doing what matters, with who matters.
4D – 53 – ROCKING! Hitting the big-50 is fantastic 4D, you’ve come back fighting alright! Keep it going J !
Athena1991 - 52 – ROCKING! Haven’t heard from my partner-in-crime on this Challnege for a while, but hope you’re Ok Athena, do keep in touch gal!
Adam808 – 33 days – ROCKING! Our latest striver and also assisting others here on the Gamcare forums – great karma!
Xenedra – 32 days – ROCKING! You’ve recognized that payday is just another day when gambling free – doing fantastic!
NEWBIES
Geo – 29 days – ROCKING! One day from the most important milestone of all in my opinion – Striver, 30 days proving a month of being gambling free is more than possible.
Boxingdayfresh – 28 days – ROCKING! I did enjoy my break thank you BDF – and you’re looking good for a key milestone I note; let’s see you smash through it this week.
Tooshie - 28 days – ROCKING! – You’ve gone quiet Tooshie, do let us know how it’s going. We with you here – we’re a team.
Mitch91 - 28 days - ROCKING! – Haven’t heard from you for a short while Mitch – do get it touch if you feel you are able. We don’t bite (promise!)
Paulll - 25 days - ROCKING! Enjoying your posts Paulll. Don’t worry if you have a circle of friends who gamble or drink. Just let them know you’re off the gambling. True friends understand. And they’ll respect you for your honesty and conviction.
Wallyweird – 21 days – ROCKING! - Having good, solid, ‘blockers’ really helps and taking your cash out of your sight really helps – I do the same. Take away the cash element and gambling’s impossible.
Velvet7 – 19 days – ROCKING! - Doing great and helping others on Gamcare helps you understand more about this insidious addiction too. This is all about changing our mindsets. Doing great!
Helpless (Previously ‘Next Steps’) - 13 days – ROCKING! Good stuff, Helpless. Remember, the better the practical measures you put into place, the better your chance of success.
Slotfool - 11 days – ROCKING! – You’ve given a great deal of thought to your recent relapse and you’ll be a lot wiser this time round. Which is what it’s all about; getting to the point where you simply don’t need to bother with this destructive habit any more.
Mayfair Ave – 7 days – ROCKING! - Our newbie; let’s see what you’re made of!
Ineffable - 2 days too - RELAPSED – I know you’re finding it tough Ineffable; it’s all about the strategy. Let’s get your mindset and strategy back in place. Let’s get you to Striver.
RESTING
No-one rested this week (again) – however, we may lose half a dozen or so of our Challenge members next week if I don’t hear anything. It’s always sad to see anyone go 🙁
It seems like we’re mostly ROCKING, although experience tells me – and all of us – that some of us "going quiet" might mean we lose a few of us next week. Let’s hope it doesn’t happen … because anyone relapsing, admitting it, and trying again deserves our respect – especially if extra measures are put into place that prove a determined intent to succeed – and live a better life!
Take care everyone; enjoy a few spooky days ahead and let any fireworks be celebratory GF ones!
P.S. Don't forget the Christmas Challenge - highly recommended. Just check in every week!
Let’s keep strong; keep sharing and keep strong!
Mixer and Athena, your hosts for this challenge
Thanks for the update Mixer. Those who haven't been on here for a while - I do hope to see many of you return. I spent several months trying to get into the right mindset this year for quitting. It is difficult, but in my experience I've done much better when I've kept close to this site. This Guru Challenge is by far the best challenge I've been in. I cannot believe how much time and effort you place into knowing everyone's situation and not only their days gamble free but also a little more about each of our personal journeys. Sincerely a hats off to you Mixer. Despite you having been away and had a lovely short break you've still found the time and put the effort into updating everyone in so much detail. This is admirable and a big thank you !
I'm excited to be only two days away from my first mini goal and it's a lovely feeling to be getting past NEWBIE status and onto STRIVER. I feel motivated to keep on with this now and looking forward to the Christmas Challenge which officially starts this week.
Best wishes to you all for the week ahead.
Thank you for all the effort mixer my man ! You’re amazing ! Keep up the good work everyone ! checking in , 149 days GF !
Excellent as ever Mixer! 🙂
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
We stay in the capital, St Helier.
We go for two weeks every year so we tend to get about all over the island during that time.
I do love the capital and St Brelade. Both lovely places.
Striving for that Striver’s status.
Feeling determined to succeed. I’m enjoying the peaceful mind of not having gambling in my life.
Lying here on my sofa on a Sunday night, totally chilled and not stressing about whether my bets/numbers come in.
It’s a much heathier life.
Missed the Sunday roll call three weeks now, apologies for that, still abstaining and lost complete interest in gambling. 73 days ago I finally after 7 plus years admitted defeat. The losses became crippling and still are. Year's of repaying debt to look forward to but a reminder of a past life that caused such misery. I won't be going back there.
Day 30 GF, life is maginally better. thoughts are there but keeping them at bay by going GA meetings, occupying my time with other activities and speaking to family and friends whenever I get the urge. hopefully another 30 more days GF to follow but for now I will take it one day at a time.
Thanks Mixer, Great rollcall as usual all the time and effort you put in is appricated by so many on here, glad you had a good break away with the family, thanks again 🙂
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