21st June 2019 - Stopped gambling.

Summer Solstice - 21st June 2019

A day when my life changed forever

It was the day I stopped gambling

Well I have had a lovely day. No money but I didn't need any as I enjoyed a walk along the riverfront, around the marina and onto the pier.

Plenty of good fresh air which blew away the cobwebs and it was also an excellent opportunity for me to contemplate my future life as a non gambler. 

I will need to be alert on Friday when my monthly pension goes in the bank but that evening I am going out with friends for a meal and a disco, so that will not be a problem. 

Gamcare Brothers - Gamcare Sisters

Arm-in-arm together - Ladies and Misters

Heading for a better life devoid of pain and strife

Happy faces all around will brighten up one's life

It would have been far better if we had never gambled

But hopefully we've seen the light before our brains got scrambled

Feeling quite contented and belly has been fed

I'll soon lay down and dream nice dreams in the comfort of my bed

Ready for the challenges another day will bring

And when tomorrow does arrive I'll laugh, dance and sing

My mission us to find myself at peace and gamble free

And when the morning wakes me up than I'll  be on day three

Yihaaa - Woohoo gotta keep on rocking

"Gamble Free's" the answer when temptation comes a knocking

The sun shines bright and I feel blessed to have this one more chance

Avoiding all the betting shops means I can sing and dance

And when the show is over and I say goodbye to life

I will be calm and peaceful without worries, pain or strife

And than I'll head off to a realm with furnace, fire and stoker

I hope that when I get there they're not all playing poker!

Hi Stephen,

That's one bright picture of yours..hurts my eyes lol But it also resembles positivity and light! So keep shining it my friend.

Now,...New diary, new resolve right. May i ask how did you manage to gamble again? ...and, again, one of the worst nagging questions - what you gonna do differently about it This time?

Slips hurts..yes, been there more times than I have been on this site..know the drill..no the pain.

Hope you're looking after yourself, have support around you and keeping kindness going to yourself.

Im a little disbalanced recently so not g on a type much.

Just so you know - we are here & listening.

Take care/ stay safe

S&B xc

Hey Stephen 

Glad you are fighting adversity with so much positivity. Keep posting you have many friends on here rooting for you. And I for one enjoy your rhymes. They always make me smile. In your corner.

Keep going my friend

Many thanks for the kind words of support and encouragement.

Sandra.. You are a priceless gem in the the gamcare treasure chest and if I had paid more attention to your words of wisdom than maybe I wouldn't keep relapsing. I have no excuses other than the fact I lose my resolve very easily and am a spineless, lily-livered waste of space. But they are my good points lol.

Rob...You are fast approaching the century mark and I applaud your great attitude, courage and good taste in rhymes.

Holycrosser.... 106 days without gambling and this weekend you are getting married. I wish you and your bride-to-be many years of happiness together.

Hey Stephen, 

I've been wondering how you've been getting on, keep on fighting my friend, you can do it ! 

Just dropped by to say thanks for all your help on my journey in the past. its meant alot and your poems have got me through alot of sadness and dark times.

Lisa 🙂 

Thankyou for that lovely post Lisa which has brightened up my day. I have replied on your diary.

All is well with me as regards not gambling but tomorrow I get my weekly state pension and Friday my monthly works pension so naturally I am feeling a bit apprehensive. Out with friends Thurs/Friday night and am determined that this month I will not do anything stupid.

Cloudy today there us no sun but I can still have lots of fun

A bit of this and a bit of that to greet the world with a tip of my hat

My life is good and I rejoices making plans and choosing choices

Hey Stephen! Thanks for your reply too, have you thought about giving all your money to someone else to look after for you? I was only properly able to stop when I started taking all of my money out of my bank as soon as I got paid as I only ever gambled online which I couldn’t do as my bank was/is permanently empty! Where are you off to tomorrow /Friday night? 🙂 

Lisa 

Thankyou for visiting my diary Lisa. You have done really well and I have a lot of respect for the hard work, courage and commitment you have shown.

Weekly state pension in bank today and monthly works pension in bank tomorrow so need to be 100% focussed on not gambling. I will draw inspiration from good people like yourself and other gamcare friends who have remained gamble free for long periods.

I have in the past given my bank card to friends who have given me money as and when needed. Sadly I have let those people down on every occasion and now there is nobody to turn to for help with my finances. I still have friends and acquaintances but nobody who can help me in my ongoing battle with gambling addiction.

I think I will be fine over the next week. Tonight I am at a bar/cafe with live music so that should be fun, tomorrow night with friends at Holiday Inn for a meal & disco night. Tuesday night will see me at Salsa dancing, with a lady friend. So everything is looking rosy. I am having problems with tendonitis in my foot but I have got some insoles, am applying anti-inflammatory gel and will make sure I don't overdo it.

Retired with nobody reliant upon me so able to spend money how, when and where I please. I really should be living the dream but on so many occasions I have chosen to live a nightmare.

I have in the past gone in betting shops and given my pension to the machines which has left me feeling lonely and struggling to get by for the month.

Well the good news is that I am now gamble free and that's the way I am going to stay.

Hey stephen, I can’t find if you’ve made a new diary or not. I just came back to see how you were getting on? Hope to hear soon!