*** Join The Guru Challenge! ***

First 4 weeks GF. Feels good to be free but I’m being vigilant. When the urges come- and they will, I know- I hope I will be ready to fight them.

Mixer, hope you feel better soon.

Mixer wrote:

I've not touched alcohol for 10 days so onwards and upwards ...!

Take care everyone

Mixer

Very impressive 10 days, I am trying to tackle that one myself too but so many years of daily drinking spirits has taken it's toll on my body, can't seem to even go one day yet so well done you! My mind is ready but my body not quite.. hopefully will get there as I am sure you will do too.

Best wishes and feel better soon,

angel

Hey mixer u take a big break from this, we can post to each other and keep the guru spirit allive for a couple of weeks or a month then you come back with another brilliant update when ur better. Cheers mate adam

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Sorry your not feeling so good Mixer.

You look after your self and get well soon.

Thank you for your kind messages everyone - I'm not well at the mo (visiting the doctors tomorrow morning) so will catch up when I'm better (hopefully, in a couple of days). Let's keep our spirits and resolve high 🙂 !!!

P.S. Thanks Adam, there's a great vibe on this thread, which is for all of us to cherish and share, and our group is, collectively, in good hands 🙂 !

Time for some prayers and gratitude, time for some healing, time to surrender. Least, that is what I am feeling. Allow for change. Breath. tara2

Guru Challengers newsflash ~ Mixer the fixer needs an elixir.

Be you on the moon, sat on the loo or chilling out in Timbuktu

Watching tv or washing dishes close your eyes and send him wishes

Morning all..

Half century looms. tomorrow will be my 50th day gambling free. iv reached this milestone twice in the past but i think i feel a lot better. things looking up, house sold and bought new..bigger one just waiting on a moving date. now is definately not the time to relapse, as my partner keeps saying. Iv been open to a lot more of my friends this time, which has helped as im not getting messages about sports betting etc in the whatsapp groups im in.

next stop 100 days!

Checking in for my first milestone..

Day 30 gamble free!

Been a very tough ride so far and a hell of a long way to go still, but one day at a time and not looking to 60 days yet, instead I am just making sure that I dont gamble today on day 30.

Day 18 GF for me today ... get well soon Mixer xxx

*** Mini-catchup *** 6th June 2018

GOOD EVENING!

Thank you everyone for your kind messages over the last few days. I've not felt 'right' and had some blood tests given to me today that have highlighted a couple of issues. Suffice to say, and I 'kinda' knew this, I need to seriously watch my drinking levels which had been 'creeping up' to levels that aren't good. It's amazing, these days, what blood tests can reveal; not only are there dozens of indicators relating to your general well being but they also give you the odds of something serious happening in the next ten years - and mine showed percentage odds any casino operator would be happy to have as an operating margin. In other words, too high.

I am grateful that I can do something about my results; I have a prescription that will help me with other bits and pieces but, generally speaking, I can do something about it. It's an early warning, a 'shot across the bows'.

It's like gambling. We're here, we've had a 'shot across the bows', but we can, and are, doing something about it. And that's a good thing; so let's keep on giving this our best shot.

Another thing whilst I'm in 'ramble' mode. I received very sad news that a former work colleague, who I still kept in touch with, sadly passed away last week. She was my age (49), good fun to be around but sadly terminally diagnosed and died within months. Funeral's Friday. It affected me, not only as someone of my generation, and someone I liked and will miss, but a reminder of what matters in life and why we must make the best of it. For those that are here, our family, friends and loved ones, and those who are no longer with us. We're holding a torch for them, too.

Let's finish on a high. And that is, so many of our group really going for this - going gambling free. Is it possible to 'recover' from our addiction? Maybe, maybe not. But we can certainly keep abstaining day by day, with blocks in place that mean we can't gamble even if we wanted to - forever! That's our target, this can be our choice. We know gambling's bad for us, so let's make the right choice, eh 🙂

How are we doing everyone?

Waldal1979 - thank you for your kind message. Delighted to see you're on Day 18. Let's see that hit a month, one day at a time!

JA72 - this is the milestone that means so much. It means disposable funds have passed through our hands but not down the drain (i.e. gambling). A very good start, your intent is clear, your blocks in place. Keep adding to those blocks! 30 days - brilliant. A foothold on the gambling free mountain secured!

Mitch91 - A half century of not gambing is a very good achievement. As you've said, you've been here before but I always like to think that, this time, you are wiser and ready for, day to day, a real realisation meaning you recgonise that you don't have to gamble any more. Your blocks are better - your freinds are aware - and it's this network you've built that will make you even less inclined to stray. After all, who likes to disappoint or let down their friends?

Stephen97 - thank you for your kind messages and exquisitely written poems. Always a joy to read and with a smile on my face too 🙂 You're a good man, Stephen.

Caughtup - thank you for your kind words, and I notice from your profile you're 44 days gambling free. That - is just the tonic!

Tara2 - time is what matters more than anything and when we're not gambling, we're making so much more of that precious time. As you say: "Time for some prayers and gratitude, time for some healing, time to surrender". Very nicely put.

Adam123 - thank you for keeping an eye out for me; that was very appreciated. Thank you. I'm glad to see, after your blip, you straightway did the right thing and back in the zone where we all need to be. You're really getting there, and I sense you know that. By the way, you're more than welcome to 'step in' and carry out catch-ups if that ever suits you and you have the time. Or just keep things 'running'. Never, ever, any obliglation to do this. But anything that helps our thread keep nice and vibrant if I'm not around always helps 🙂 !

xangel11 - thank you for your kind words and empathy. I feel for your situation as you do mine. We all have out crosses to bear but talking about it, sharing our experiences, especially on anonymous forums such as this, really help, I think.

Serendipity77 - By my reckoning you'll have hit 30 days gambling free which, if so, is excellent. Really good. The urges will keep a comin' - that's the nature of it. Others may disagree but I think it's down to the blocks and abstaining one day at a time. Can we be cured? Maybe some of us can, maybe not. But putting in practical preventative measures has got to be a good idea, surely! Keep it going.

boxingdayfresh - thank you for your kind words and seeing you hit 2 weeks, and I'm certainly two weeks more - day by day, as always - will always "make my day". It's great that you're back. It's an acceptance that we do find this very, very tough and we will do anything, do our utmost, to deal with it.

Sars27 - Was it Buzz Lightyear who said: "Infinity and beyond...!". Well, having hit 1 year there's no reason why you can't go way, way, beyond that. Delighted to read you're 1 year gambling free - you smashed through that milestone - and your undimmed positive attitude and zest for life makes a helluva big difference. Nice one, Sars; nice one!

John64 - thank you for checking in and you're three-quarters of the way to a ton-up gambling free. Keep it going, steadfast and sure (the motto of the Boy's Brigade, blimey, I'm going back a few years there..!)

Godoicul - lovely post and great wen you're showering the free spend you have got on your family. That's what it's all about, the time you're giving, the attention you're giving, the real you, the personality they know and love, you're giving. The money just happens to be a pleasant - but always welcome - bonus!

Pink2018 - When this addiction has caused debts - often onerous - it's sometimes diffcult to see the light at the end of the tunnel; for example, will we ever be debt-free? Don't forget to re-examine your debts and consider Stepchange. Wouldn't it be good to get your debts cleared within a defined number of years, say 5? Stepchange can really help. Don't feel you have to keep the debts going forever; it really doesn't have to be that way. Worth thinking about Pink; do share your thoughts with us. We have a lot of experience in our group and might be able to lob a couple of ideas your way.

Bigmug - I hope you enjoyed your day at Blackpool, although, to be honest, not the best choice if you're trying to give up gambling. (I think that's a reasonable assertion 😉 !)But ... we have to start somewhere and if you still haven't gambled upon your return, then all power to your elbow. Remember, though, that our willpower is weak and can be misguided. That's why we relapse, which is the worst. So consider putting into place blocks to make d**n sure you can't gamble even if you wanted to.

Christer - I hope you had a lovely week in Cornwall with your family. One of my favourite places; I'm there this summer in fact. And, you're right, it's always good to read how we're all getting on; it's uplifting and great we are listening, read and support each other.

Egdam - welcome to the Challnege; you'll be on the very next rollcall. Great to have you join us!

Slotfool - Congratulations on a double whammy - 200 days gambling free AND on the cusp of being debt free, too! Great stuff and proving you can do this, in a measured way, day by day, for us long as you want to. We have freedom of choice - we don't have to do this any more! As you realise. How cathartic that thought is.

Ukds69 - The more we think about why we've been doing this destructive thing the more 'pennies drop' and the more answers we get. I'm glad you're getting the answers; not only that, the realisation you've always got to be on guard - but it's guarding a much better life, right 🙂

Determined Dan - you're more than welcome to rejoin the challenge Dan. Consider it done! No mention on the Rollcall till you've hit 30 days. Which I'm sure you will, right 😉

Gamcare Forum Moderators - thank you for your personal e-mail to me enquiring as to my health and checking I'm Ok. That was really appreciated. I think you all do a great job, at the sharp end, looking out for us, supporting us, on the Netline, phone calls and other stuff you do. It's noted and respected 🙂

*** FINAL THOUGHT ***

Got the urge? It's tough when gambling urges come along, often when you least expect them. Here are 10 tips:

1. Plan ahead to avoid boredom

2. Live your life one day at a time

3. Do something completely different

4. Rekindle an old hobby

5. Be especially vigilant leading up to special events

6. Find ways that help you cope better with stress

7. Remind yourself that to gamble is to lose

8. Identify your self-sabotage triggers

9. Visualise your betting firm or casino with a negative slogan

10. Write a daily gratitude list

That's it from me tonight. Take care, everyone. Enjoy the warmer weather, enjoy the sunshine. Let this be OUR YEAR!

Mixer

Hi mixer glad ur getting better, I'm also thinking of knocking the alcohol on the head, early in the year I ws told that I shouldn't drink soi didn't fof three months and the health benefits were huge. The only thing is u have to find something else that wil give u a release of stress. Maybe golf, footbal, gym, cycling, visits to national parks, photography, swiming, DVDs, cds, these are al things that iha ve used to reduce stress levels. I feel great that yo would over me a

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Thanks for the reply to my message mixer,I found it ok in Blackpool I kept out of the bookies and out the arcades,now I'm home I buy a newspaper but don't look at the racing section, I'm now 8 days gamble free and starting to get my life back.

Id like to offer my support on this thread however I will just post advice or encouragemt when I read someone's post and not on a roll call. Maybe if someone else was willing to post the daycounts of everyone then you could offer ur advice as and when, could free you up some time and admin. All the best Adam anyone fancy doing that for mixer? Just an idea

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:-):-):-):-) 7th June 2018 ~ Oyez Oyez Oyez ~ Guru Mixer is 300 days gamble free :-):-):-):-):-

Congratulations to a man who has kept his resolve whilst being very supportive to his fellow travellers.

I raise my glass and tip my hat to show my respect for a true gamcare warrior.