*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

Another terrific weekly update and roll call Mixer. Your message is always full of hope and encouragement, with a good dose of caution and advise thrown in the mix.

I'm so glad you're walking the walk and it's clear that your strength, belief and determination is due to blocks, accountability and choosing life.

Keep up the good work my friend.

Checking in GF 65 Days now.

Christmas presents all paid for, even managed to treat myself to a new coat, at £155 this would have been placed on sports bets. feels good to get something out of the money im working hard to earn, and not just throwing it away. Can feel myself getting in the xmas spirit a bit now having not enjoyed it for the past 5/6 years.

Counselling sessions are going well, after the first 2/3 i left feeling drained and a bit low about everything, that seems to have changed and im coming out feeling a lot more positive now. Not had any urge to bet for about 3weeks now which is a massive positive, even when im following my football team and watching football on the TV i dont think about what the odds would be on something.

Hope you all are staying GF and feeling good like i do atm.

Thanks Mixer.

I like the idea of booting the gambling devil - I can imagine him lurking around the corners and it feels good to keep sticking the boot in so to speak !

Great to hear a little about others journeys too and it’s clear we are happier and generally better prepared for Christmas without the gambling devil upon our shoulders.

Day 44 - Checking in 🙂

37 gf now

Christer1 - thank you for your kind comments. It's fantastic that you've put your recent windfall to very good use, something that will benefit you and your loved ones for years to come. Never worry about rambling btw ... ramble away 🙂

Charton3 - I'm glad that the Challenge is helping you. As part of a "balanced diet", including good gamblng blockers, support and a big dollop of determination, you can live this better life for as long as you want to - why on earth would you want to stop now? Keep it going, my friend!

Rubybaby - thank you for checking in Rubes - and delighted you're on the good path, you know how much this matters 🙂

Changemylife - thank you for your kind words, and I likewise wish you well, too. Having hit 400 days, you've certainly found the 'formula' but with no complacency; you realise, as we all must, that we've got to keep 'taking the medicine' to keep us on an even keel 🙂

Mitch - what a great feeling it is, isn't it, to buy something, useful, needed and of a high quality - case in point, your new coat. With an extra cold winter ahead you can rightly feel damned proud for making such a good investment. Glad the counselling's going well, and I agree, it can be draining, but you're sticking at this, always reminding yourself, every day: today, no matter what, I am not placing any kind of bet. Then you can relax and enjoy the day, enjoy life!

Boxingday - glad you liked my gambing devil analogy. I'm always booting this devil away, sometimes into the sea, sometimes onto concrete and occasionally a bubbling caudron of fire (although the devil would probably like that ...!)

Moorey - great to see you steadfastly back into the zone; stay here Moorey, it's a good place to be. Heck, I know this isn't easy; I've been gambing for years. But we've got to try our best. We'll never have a "road to Damascus" or Eureka moment when we say: "I get it!!! I shouldn't gamble!" because we're very entrenched. But ... we can tilt our mindset just 1% to the left so at least we don't carry out the act of placing a bet. That little tilt makes all the difference!

Let's keep strong everyone. Remember - we don't have to do this! We can keep our money. Let's continue to give ourselves a break, relax, and dare to feel good!

Mixer

Still here, still GF! Thanks Mixer for your time and encouragement. X

Velvet - great to hear! Keep it going ... there is no reason to gamble :)

Checking in on 28 days! My best so far I think, pretty sure I've only made it to 27 days previously so pleased with that 🙂
Best start making way for 1 more Striver because here I come guys

Checking in on Day 46

Checking in day 103 .... hanging in there

Slotfool - you're heading towards Striver - excellent; Morrey - as ever, delighted with your steely determination. Chartom - yes, you've hit 100, but there's no respite - you have to keep enjoying what you know is a much better life!

For anyone wavering, or finding being gambling-free really tough right now; try this.

Visit the Family and Friends part of the forums. I've mentioned this before; but it's worth repeating. You'll read heartbreaking tales of family and friends of compuslive gamblers really struggling. Debts are uncovered, relationships ruined, trust gone. Let's not do this to those who care about us so much. Never forget them.

I visit the Family and Friends thread pretty much every day. I find myself saddened, humbled, guilty for what I've done in the past - but then I re-resolve not to do this any more. I'm turning this around. Let's all turn it around. I read somewhere that compulsive gamblers are "good" people, deep down. Well, probably ...

I say: let's prove it. Let's prove we're good people. By staying gambling free. Putting steps in place for when we're weak and realising this is for life. Let's see what we say we're really made of, and wear our hearts on our sleeves.

Mixer

Hey Guys..still GF.. been busy recently before Xmas..not gambled a penny..more interested in the the gym and paying my debt off..though flashback of a made month still flash in my mind..no urges though..that’s the main thing..keep strong everyone.

Hi Mixer and the 'Guru Challengers.' Hope everyone is ok. Enjoyed reading last weeks 'Rollcall' which is always light hearted and fun but delivers a serious message to us all.

Not feeling 100% yet. Came out of hospital last Sunday after being admitted the Tuesday before with a high, irregular heartbeat and pneumonia. Still have chest pain and breathing's not too good but doctors said it would take weeks to clear up. It's all because of my COPD which came about through smoking. Stopped 16+ years ago aged 50 but the damage had been done by than. What an idiot.67 now and lungs messed up with my smoking and relationships messed up with my gambling. Worked hard all my life and nothing to show for it.

Day 24 Gamble Free. Hoping I can now wear my heart on my sleeve and walk the walk. Going for 'Guru Status' as I think 500 days and I will have cracked it, just got to make sure I don't flick the self destruct switch.

Best wishes to you Abstainer. Keep going on the gamble free path ... nothing will ensure your future happiness more than if you stay gamble free., you can do it this time ... We, unfortunately, cannot change or undo the past, but decisions we make each day will shape our future.

Checking in on 70 days today and really determined to keep going. I’ve also very little material possessions to show for years of working ... sadly just debts.? But 2018 will be my first full year gamble free, so things are looking up !