*** SATURDAY CATCH UP ***
Good morning everyone and hope you're all enjoying the sunny weather. The heatwave is truly on ... will it be a drought? It all depends on the Jet Stream, of course; let's see where the 'wind blows'. Whilst we can't determine what the weather has in store we can improve our own personal 'weather'. By not gambling we blow those dark clouds away, clear the mists and simplify life: who needs the complications gambling brings? Life's tough enough.
Enjoying the world cup? Who needs a gamble anyway, it gets in the way of the game. Even if you did win (unlikely, given the run of results, but that's a moot point), you'd give it all back, and then some more; that's our pattern, we are recovering problem gamblers.
If slots or FOBTs have been your poision, then I've read that the £2 max stakes have been put back to 2020. But, remember, it makes absolutely NO difference to us - we'd still lose, but spend longer losing it and waste more precious time. Not forgetting how our personalities are negatively affected and how we treat others. Just leave them alone, and, to make sure you do, BAN yourself. If it's pub fruities that are your weakness, ask the publican to ban you. Or your friends - they'll keep an eye on you.
Online slots and bingo? Leave them alone, too. The adverts paint on-line bingo as a social activites but it isn't. It's a lonely activity and all you're doing is 'socialising' with other likeminded sad addicts. Not a crowd you want to be part of.
We've all been sad addicts, myself included, for far, far too long. I've been in the same company (at work) for nearly 30 years, not been promoted for 20. In a rut, perhaps - although a rut is a path well travelled, which is not always necessarily a bad thing. How far up the rungs would I have got without the distractions of gambling? I try not to think about it. But I'm looking for promotion now, turned one down recently for family reasons (I have a son with special needs) but it's good, being gambling free, that my ambitions have been rekindled.
But problem gambling, that I've not dealt with successfully enough in the past, has sent me from being a high-flyer to a low-flyer. Don't make the same mistake as me.
But enough about me. How are YOU - let's find out 🙂
Whereismymind - Great to see you in the zone, enjoying the World Cup and having a few beers. Sounds good to me!
Christer1 - thank you for checking in. I'm glad the wedding went well and hope you are heading for a period of time with relative peace.
JA72 - I fully understand that the urges can be very heavy especially when embarking on the non-gambling path. Remember, it's all about the blocks to deal with the inevitable weak moments. Get the blocks right and your chances of a better life improve immensely.
Stephen - thank you for checking in and glad you liked the link I highlighted. There's some fantastic wisdom abound the forums - really amazing stuff - and the 'Rules for Being Human' really helps us keep perspective. It's key, during our recovery, we keep learning, reading and keeping things real and manageable.
Wardal - that's the first thing you notice when going gamblng-free for any length of time - more cash. But what to do with it? We're in an age of 'peak stuff' - we've all got enough 'things' and so it's about experiences - stuff we can do and share with others. Putting lumps on a nice holiday is a great way to spend the extra dosh!
Tara2 - thank you for checking in. The serenity prayer is one of my favourite bits of prose because it reminds us of what we can do, what we shouldn't do, and why. The prayer is not the bedrock of GA meetings for nothing! I hope you're keeping well, Tara.
Magnetism - welcome to your group! Just keep posting, let us know how you're getting on, and you'll always get a guaranteed reply from us. We all look out for each other. Welcome aboard!
Mitch - I am delighted to see that you've taken a backseat from gambling - settling in, for life is our aim. One day at a day, with blocks in place = result! Great to read you enjoying much more fruitful pursuits - your love of fishing. And you clearly have expertise in this direction too. This is what it's all about, Mitch - doing things that make as much more content and happier in our lives.
Chartom2 - Congratulations from us all in your hitting the double-century. It is NOT easy and those words cannot always express the hard work that this addiction requires from us to keep away. But you are doing it, one hard-earned day at a time, and you get tons of respect from us. Really great to hear this news, Chartom.
Xangel - thank you for checking in and fantastic to read, from your posts, that you're in the right, happy direction! Let's enjoy this life we've had the fortune to be given - let's not gamble it away!
Determined Dan - thank you for checking in and you're heading for your half-century number of days gambling free. Going to 'limp' to the 50 day milestone? No, you're going to SMASH through it!
Godoicul - Isn't this a great world cup? And, rightly, we don't need a bet on it. Strange, take away the betting and you don't miss it after a short while. It doesn't compute; it doesn't make sense. What a tournament it's been. Keep enjoying the better life, my friend.
Right ... Onwards and Upwards everyone. Let's stop moping - if any of us are - and let's get on with what we need to do. Let's talk about recovery, share with others, and do our best to get what we deserve: here's to a better life.
Cheers!
Mixer
Checking in on day 71! Enjoy the sun!!
Thankyou mixer yes all quite this week.
Checking in GF still 🙂
Just checking in,31 days gf,feeling proud
Cheers mixer bro. 2 more good games today. Spent a few quid on a bbq today with family beer and great weather. No gambling just the good stuff like.
Happy Days
Hello Mixer and everyone on this thread. Thanks Mixer, for your select words which always hit home and spark recovery motivation in me/us. Good question "Who needs added complications in life? Complications that compulsive gambling add to an already challenging (yet blessed) exisitance. " Thanks for the reminder mixer.
Here's a question... can I/we up the recovery without first feeling a need to up the pain or find a new bottom? Can I/we pick up the weight of any urge and plop it onto the recovery side of the see saw... that'll bring us back to sanity and groundedness fast. Yes, true, but none of my fancy thoughts and clever words are as meaningfu and effect as that in the moment choice to choose outside of the box of addiction.
tara2
395 GF DAYS 🙂
50 days gamble free for me 🙂
Impressive stuff, Sars! I remember the very beginning of your journey.
Top stuff mate.
Checking in on day 235
I enjoyed the Saturday Catchup Mixer - a good read, informative and inspiring.
Good to see some Guru Challengers are kicking this addiction into touch and going many many days without gambling. Replacing gambling with more worthwhile pastimes, enjoying social interaction and making positive changes to their lives.
We are all on a different journey but we are sharing the same recovery road and seeking liberation from an evil tyrannical addiction that has ruled over us for too long. We are at different stages in our recovery with some just setting off, others navigating the foothills and a number of brave souls who are scaling the Gamcare Mountain. We all have the right to take back our freedom. Let's just keep forging ahead one day at a time. Dig deep and we will find the courage to complete this noble quest. We are capable of so much more than we realise.
Guru Challengers everywhere I salute you and wish you every success.
Let's rock n roll ......
Looking forward to the match tomorrow night. Ever the optimist NOT I’ve booked my taxi home at 10 just in case we go all way to pens lol.
I’ll be enjoying the game with family and beer not gambling and misery. Please do the same.
Have a good un
Iain
Checking in on day 25. Feeling strong, making the right choices. Long may this continue. Thanks for your hard work Mixer!
No matter how high or low the bet.. imagine the same ultimate outcome. If I tried to play like a millionaire I'd end up a million in debt in the process. If a millionaire played within his/her limits they would not be getting richer. If a millionaire played like a billion aire they would be a billion dollars in debt. If someone who had $1000 to their name played like they had $50,000 in the bank then they would go home quickly or end up in debt. Yep, playing within limits does not yeild much more than headaches for an addict and playing way over our income level equals huge headaches and huge debt. blah blah. odaat heading to a month. tara2
Checking in on day 208 ...... a few thoughts to gamble on the world cup as football was my main sport to bet on but blocks are strong and doing there job,thank goodness.
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