Don't Lose Your Head

Nice one mate for getting into double figures!

Wilsy

Good morning gamcare friends. I appreciate the posts on my diary which strengthen my resolve.

Wilsy & Sandra... Well respected members of the century club. With love and compassion you breeze through the diaries offering hope, advice and encouragement.

Equinox... A moment in time when the sun crosses the celestial equator. Day and night find themselves equal and in balance. You are now 3 days into your very own balancing act. Recovery from gambling addiction requires acceptance, understanding and self belief. You will need to find a middle ground which can bring harmony to your thoughts and emotions.

Chartom..Congratulations on 70 days gamble free. Try not to over analyse things, accept your going in the right direction and keep your head down. The addiction may try to confuse you with doubts and misgivings but don't take any notice.

Annie...Congratulation on 3 weeks gamble free. Looking forward to following your journey and sharing some happy times along the way. There may be blue days now and than but we can live with that. Keep smiling at troubles cos troubles are bubbles and bubbles will soon blow away.

Hi Stephen thanks for posting, happy weekend to you too! Hope you've got some fun planned!! Take care S:)

I like your talk of troubles being bubbles that blow away - very catchy! Well done on continuing to move forward. X

Thank you Sharon & Annie for your kind words.

A friend recently wrote of a happy time in her childhood. Fond memories of a time when life was carefree and fun.

We might feel like warning that child of the sadness that lies ahead

Or we can maybe tell that child that his/her future self battled bravely to bring about a happy ending.

Sunday can be a good time for reflection. We can look towards the positives with love in our heart, a smile on our face and a song on our lips.

Love and best wishes to everyone on the diaries...stephen x x x x x

Hi Stephen, a long time no speak my friend. Sorry to read about your relapses. I, too, have had a couple in recent times but I’m ready to fight once again. Gambling just isn’t worth it anymore. They say, “when the fun stops, stop” but for me, the fun never starts. I’m much happier and far more at peace when I’m not gambling. So that’s how I want it to stay. I must find other things to do to occupy myself. The best of luck for the journey ahead my friend. Let’s do this together. Let’s be winners in life.

DeterminedDan (previously Moorey)

Hello sir Stephen 🙂 you’re nearly 2 weeks without a bet ! This time I’m sure you’re much stronger . Good job sir !

Sars

Happy Sunday Stephen. Hope it's been sunny and kind. X

Thank you for the posts on my diary. DeterminedDan good to see you back, under a new name, full of enthusiasm and raring to go. Sars forever going forward with a sense of purpose and a steely resolve. Annie Great to see you so positive and getting plenty of exercise. You must be fit as a fiddle with all that running.Well done.

It is absolutely wonderful and also an inspiration to see friends forging ahead in their recovery. Lots of them up ahead in the distance climbing the gamcare hiils and running up the mountain side.

I am happy for those who are winning their battles but so upset that I am not with them. Here I am on day 13 when I could have been on day 283. It would make sense if I had been tortured, beaten or threatened but that wasn't the case. I simply gave in because I was a bit fed up, had a few dark thoughts and felt the urge to gamble.

The good news is I am not giving in again. When Addiction comes knocking with his three sidekicks (Lonely, Sad and Fearful) I will tell them to clear off

Hi Stephen don't think you're not winning because you are still here, racking up GF days and helping others. Also at least you csn pick up on the low points before a relapse and ride them out.I must say I'm feeling very Mondayish today and feel a little bit low so can really connect to when lonely, sad and fearful visit. But tomorrow is another day, thoughts and feeling pass and we are stronger than gambling. Take care Sx

Hi Stephen - you have racked a huge number of days gamble free albeit they weren't all consecutive but a huge number nevertheless. Your post cheered me up as the weather has been gloomy. Keep going !

Thank you for the posts on my diary.... Sharon. Sorry you had the blues yesterday but loved your response to it -"Tomorrow is another day, thoughts and feelings pass and we are stronger than gambling." ... Annie. Pleased to see your positive and determined. Running is a far better pastime than gambling and it helps keep you fit and healthy.

Hello Diary. I have got my sensible head on today and am appalled by the horrors that go hand in hand with compulsive gambling. I am going to keep my feet firmly fixed on the recovery road.

It is a tragedy that people like me return to gambling knowing full well where it leads. Shame, fear and despair are always just around the next corner. Time after time I have stumbled blindly into their waiting arms.

My thoughts today are with those who are finding it hard to cope and are maybe feeling lonely and dejected. If possible reach out for help. Don't turn to gambling for comfort because it will just make things worse.

Wishing all on the diaries a peaceful week, contented and relaxed.

You speak words of wisdom as always Stephen. Good luck for this evening and tomorrow - stay resilient!

Hi Stephen, the picture you painted of us all climbing those gamcare hills and running up the mountainside made me feel like i was Julie Andrews, I wanted to break out in song with 'the hills are alive!!!' Haha!!
Don't go beating yourself up about your slips because we're bound to get caught in a few rabbit holes on the way!
I'm looking forward to reaching the top and hoping it will all be down hill from thereon.
All good wishes x

Thank you Annie & Little Miss for your lovely posts on my diary.

Trekking through the foothills and climbing the GamCare Mountain. I can think of no song more inspirational (and relevant to our journey) than "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" from The Sound Of Music. Many artists have recorded it but my favourites are by Andy Williams, Barbara Streisland, Little Miss Lost and Shirley Bassey.

Climb every mountain ~ Search high and low ~ Follow every byway ~ Every path you know

Climb every mountain ~ Ford every stream ~ Follow every rainbow ~ Till you find your dream

A dream that will need all the love you can give

Every day of your life for as long as you live

We all have a mountain to climb and we are all searching for our dream.