Checking in on day 124 still gamble free
Good afternoon, everyone. I'm now back from my holidays and ready to 'rock and roll' as you rightly put it Stephen 🙂
Whilst away I was surprise to note the proliferation of gambling in Jersey, in particular slots in pubs. But also relieved to know the Jersey tricksters are out there in force just waiting for the mug punters - so potential tempation averted. Although gambling would have been a big risk given I had very limited funds to last the full seven days. I came home with £40 - so just made it - with one very happy little boy to boot!
Let's have a catch up 🙂
Stephen - thank you, as always, for your posts and good wishes. It is poignant and just right, actually, that you were accorded the 1000th post on this thread. You've always been here, ever supportive, and glad you made your mark in this way.
Tara2 - Nothing can stop us indeed; yes, we are on a recovery roll (a nice phrase!)
Adam123 - thank you for checking in, so glad you're keeping strong my friend.
Christer - once again thank you for highlighting, and Innefable for posting the links to, the new self-exclusion service - https://www.gamstop.co.uk/ and http://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/online-multi-operator-self-exclusion-scheme
Rubybaby - checking in for a magnificent 255 days - that's great Rubes!!!
Martymart - Welcome to the challenge; great to have you aboard!
Godoicul - delighted you had a result against your pay day lender. My thoughts on them are largely unprintable when they take undue advantage.Nice one.
Serendipity - life is better and the light sunny light bulb in our heads switches 'on' when we go gambling free. Very soon we see it; and great that you are!
Chartom - thank you for chekcing in Day 124. That's sound as a pound, and steady as the ship sails 🙂
Have a great evening, everyone and I'll be all set for the Rollcall on Sunday.
Mixer
Hello,
New to this want to make a difference in my life!!
Help me become a Guru
I'll be going on a trip starting monday , for a week. I had several options of how to get to the airport. One of those options is not an option anymore. That option was to go alone in my car and stop by this casino that I had never been to on the way to the airport or home or both. Oh my God, that would have been a nightmare times ten. So , since I have made this commitment to myself to be in recovery, not digging myself deeper or grasping denial based ideas, I will now be safe. I am not driving myself. I will either have a friend drive me one way and take the shuttle back or take the shuttle both ways. Not a problem . I want to feel as good as possible on this trip to visit my loved ones. I want to also feel as good as possible upon arriving home. ahhh... a safe plan is in place . I may not post after sunday for one week... but I'll be back. tara2
Pleased you had a good holiday Mixer. I imagine your son was thrilled to bits spending quality time with his dad and having a lot of fun.
Wishing all the Guru Challengers a great gamble free weekend. Hopefully we can all ignore the hype surrounding the Grand National and other sporting events
Temptation will never be far away but we need to just either ignore it or distract ourselves with other thoughts and activities.
Let us just focus on today and let tomorrow take care of itself.
I am Stephen ~ A compulsive gambler ~ My last bet was 28-02-18 (45 Days GF).
Notever12 - Welcome aboard! Great you're joining us!
Tara2 - this is excellent. You're thinking outside the box, trying to anticipate where gambling might ambush you. You're thinking in the right way.
Stephen - as ever, thank you for your positive, kind posts. You're always on the level, playing it straight and every post is fresh, incisive and worth waiting for! I totally ignored the Grand National today, and I've always had a punt on it. Just ignored it and it ignored me and that's good enough for me. You're exactly right, if we deflect from any gambling tempation then we'll soften the urges, one day at a time, one bit at a time. You're going great and 45 days GF speaks volumes. I always, always enjoy your posts Stephen.
* Rollcall tomorrow - don't miss it! *
Checking in ! 317 GF days sorry I missed last week's roll call due to having too much fun ! Life is amazing ! I ain't gambling ever ! I bet you all 😉
Thanks mixer my man ,
Sars
Hi mixer , day 18 still striving away , hope you had a nice relaxing break ............Pink
Day 13 small steps again i will not give up
Morning, late check in for me on 157 days
** GURU CHALLENGE - Latest WEEKLY ROLLCALL! ***
It's Sunday,15th April 2018
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to the latest rollcall, postponed from last week as I was on my hols (had a good time thank you).
I’ve had a bittersweet week this week with news from a close friend who had revealed to me that he is seriously ill. This sad news has reminded me, as this kind of news reminds us all, of the fragility of life and why we must make the best of it. We never know when our number might be up, or we hear news that shortens our short time on this planet.
I take the view that there are two types of luck. Luck we can’t do anything about, such us being hit by a runaway bus, genetics that might cause us illness, a lightning strike. And luck we can steer ourselves. Like not putting ourselves in risky situations. Working hard to improve our career chances. And not wasting our money and time, worsening relationships with others and worsening our own personalities if we, as compulsive gamblers, continue down this path.
You’ll never find me lording it or patronizing when I write ‘this stuff’. I’m continuing to find it difficult to stop, although have clocked 246 days gambling free. Every word I write isn’t just designed to help and encourage you (which it is), it’s there to help me, too.
Let’s – together – make the right decisions. Let’s not wait until it’s too late before we see the light – let’s be wise and see the light right now. See what really matters in this life. And understand why gambling is one of life’s major irritants and that we need to leave it.
We have a choice. Whilst it's not easy, this, we always have a choice. Let's do what we need to do, what we must do, eh. So, how are we doing ... are we ...
WE WELCOME
Notever12 and Martymart have joined our number this week – welcome aboard! Let’s make you Gurus, eh. We’ll catch up on your progress on next week’s Rollcall.
And we welcome back HowDidIGetToThis – fantastic to see you rejoining us!
ROLLCALL OF HONOUR
Three Guru Challengers have hit 100 days gambling free!
Godoicul – ELDER level – Congratulations for smashing through the 100-day milestone proving beyond doubt you mean this. My apologies to you – I should’ve announced this when you hit 100 days two weeks ago, but better late than never!
Adam123 - ELDER level – This is great Adam, really great. You’ve not found it easy but are you going for this … you most certainly are, my friend!
Ineffable – ELDER level – This matters, Ineffable, and you’re proving you know what this means. Here’s to better things, because they’re going to be much better than the miserable alternative.
Our congratulations to our three new ELDERS! And we have a new STRIVER, too!
Tara2 – STRIVER level – You’ve proved you can handle a month gambling free, Tara; a month where, invariably, you’ll have had access to at least some free cash. This is showing an excellent approach and intention. Great stuff Tara!
Our GURUs
Phil72 – 796 days GF – ROCKING! – Eating up those days, one at a time, Phil, heading towards another amazing milestone - always one day at a time. I hope all’s well in your world, Phil.
Sars27 – 317 – ROCKING! – Thank you for checking in and am glad it was because you’re having too much fun – that’s a damned decent excuse if you ask me 🙂
Our ELDERs
Rubybaby – 260 - ROCKING! – Thanks for the update Ruby; it’s fantastic you continue to touch base with us, knowing full well what this means to you, and to us who follow you, too 🙂
Mixer – 247 – ROCKING! 247 days … it’s true that being gambling-free, for me, at least, requires 24/7 attention.
Raj – ROCKING – 239 – Hope all’s well with you Raj, I realise you post infrequently.
4D – 221 – ROCKING! – Great to read your recent post – there are so many things that are much better than gambling, once we open our eyes to them. As you’re doing!
Slotfool – 157 – ROCKING! – Thanks for the check in this morning. Keeping in touch, it’s always a pleasure to receive your posts and it still mutual respect with your fellow Challengers.
Chartom3 - 127 – ROCKING! Life is about making the right choices, and you’re making great ones gambling-wise. Hey, we all make c**P decisions in life, but get the gambling ones right, then so much will just fall into place.
Godoicul – 114 – ROCKING! – As I’ve previously written, delighted about your payday lender refund result. My thoughts on these vultures of misery - when they take the mick - are quite pronounced and I’m sure coincide with yours!
Adam123 - 113 – ROCKING! – DELIGHTED for you mate 🙂 !!!! Keep talking, thinking and understand this addiction and building up those blockers, physical and mental. You are in the zone, topped up by your valiant determination, every single day.
Ineffable – 106 – ROCKING! – What helps us stop gambling, day after day, are the blocks we put in place and continue to add to. Thank you for the tip about using a credit card that won’t allow you to gamble. I’ve linked to your thread here so anyone who is interesting can read it.
Our STRIVERS
Lulubobs – 61 – ROCKING – Thank you for checking in, with the great news you are now officially 2 months gambling-free. That’s terrific Lulubobs – keep it going!!!
Boxingdayfresh – 53 – ROCKING – Back up to the half-century; that’s the spirit BDF! You’re encouraging others on the forums, and that’s good karma too.
Stephen the Stoic - 46 - ROCKING – Your posts and encouraging of others are really something else, Stephen. You’re non-judgmental and everything you write non-conditional and your style, without question, helps guide and motivate me when I write this Rollcall and other posts. You’re always a pleasure, Stephen and delighted you’re on the gambling-free road!
Tara2 – 32 – ROCKING – As I wrote the other day, your mindset is tuning into the right direction where you’re anticipating potential gambling temptation ambushes down the road. This is the attitude and approach that you’ll find will be a real ‘rock’ as you determinedly steer to a much, much, better path.
NEW & re-RESOLVED MEMBERS
John64 – 23 – ROCKING – Your post hits the message home – don’t waste any money and don’t have access to money. No access to money = no ability to gamble. It’s not always practical, but it’s well worth looking into. Whatever works at the end of the day! In one week, you’ll be a STRIVER – let’s see you, one day at a time, see you get there.
Pink2018 – 18 – ROCKING – Thank you checking in and I had a lovely break, with my little boy, thank you. It’s great to see you striving away, and in 12 days you’ll be a STRIVER yourself. Let’s see you pass this important milestone 🙂
Serendipity77 – 18 – ROCKING – It’s good to read the success stories because there’s often insight that can really help us, especially when we’re in the ‘foothills’ of this journey. You’ve read some of the success posts, Serendipity, and it’s well worth it. Here they are!
Christer1 – 14 – ROCKING! – When we fall down, we get up again, stronger than before. You are continuing to learn and understand this insidious addiction and that’s just the ticket. Shoulders back and stride forwards into a better life, Christer. This is the name of the game!
RESTED
NiceNormalFamily - RESTED - We haven’t heard from you for a little while, NNF, so will ‘rest’ you for the moment. Do get in touch if/when you feel able!
Mitch91 – RESTED – I haven’t heard from you for a while; do let us know how you’ve been lately!
2018 – RESTED – I hope you’re Ok, 2018. I’ve rested you as you’ve going quiet, but you’re welcome back anytime.
STATS FOR NERDS: We have two new members and one returnee. Three of our number are ‘rested’. That means we currently have 2 GURUs, 9 ELDERs, 4 STRIVERs and 4 NEW/re-RESOLVEDs in situ; a net total (inc. our 3 newbies/returnees) of 22.
*** JOKE OF THE WEEK! ***
Ready for some wise Zen teachings? These new ones have just been uncovered …. 🙂
ZEN TEACHINGS
1.
Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.
Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow.
In fact, just go away and leave me alone.
2.
s*x is like air. It's not that important unless you aren't getting any.
3.
No one is listening until you pass wind.
4.
Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.
5.
Never test the depth of the water with both feet.
6.
If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try
missing a couple of mortgage payments.
7.
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.
That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have
their shoes.
8.
If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.
9.
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.
10.
If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was
probably well worth it.
11.
If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.
12.
Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree.
13.
Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.
14.
Good judgment comes from bad experience ... and most of that
comes from bad judgment.
15.
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
16.
There are two excellent theories for arguing with women.
Neither one works.
17.
Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips
are moving.
18.
Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.
19.
We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our a*s.
Then things just keep getting worse.
And finally …….
20.
Never , under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a
laxative on the same night!
Keep strong and keep smiling everyone!
Mixer
I work for an organization that I heard was much more family run years ago. Now they pride themselves in disfunctional corporate modeled control tactics and methods of operation. I know how to survive and go along with what well keep me working. I also am not about to deaden my spirit by staying in an atmosphere like this forever. Things will change but for now , since I just got back to recovery, I have to take my time with the bigger changes in life so as not to take on too much change at one time... while I'm getting a grip and healing. I do like alot of my coworkers ( who also suffer at the whims of this management). It is great to have people to connect with each day who I am familar with. I think that those coworkers who have been doing the same job that I have , with this company, I think that they would cheer me on to find different employment; when the time comes. It is good to have support. One month gf is feeling, REAL. tara2
Hi Tara2, I’m very empathetic to your situation. I can't talk about my employment 'cos of things I've signed but let's just say ... with you all the way. We have to keep our heads down, and what helps me are the '12 rules of life' by Jordan Stephenson - worth a Google. This man, a clinical psychologist, has some excellent advice for when we have oppresive situations to deal with. We're not, and you're not, alone.
Thanks for the welcome Mixer!!
Was at a healing workshop today and they focussed on telling us that it’s only yourself that can truly heal you. Nothing anybody else can do but support us.
Wise words indeed and ones that have hit home after the last couple of days. I will become a Guru and let’s all complete this together.
Checking in on day 24, tough week for all of us but got through, have a great week everyone
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