Day 827...all good with me.
2 new members at GA last night with familiar stories of pain and heartache. Hope to see them back next week....I always find open meetings to be really beneficial: the combined unity and strength in the room can really help abstinence and recovery.
Was a bit disgruntled that the ongoing situation up North is affecting new members finding suitable meetings as information is being withheld. I've made my feelings known so hope things can move on.
Out for a good friends 40th BBQ tomorrow after a round of golf early in the morning...I hope the weather holds for both.
Day 833...no bets today or since I started on this journey of abstinence and recovery.
Open meeting at GA tonight when I pick up my 2 year bet-free medallion. Strangely not feeling as excited as I was for my 1 year recognition. I'm obviously happy, just haven't got that ecstacy I was feeling last year.
Am quite comfortable with my ongoing abstinence - I follow it by the GA book. I attend meeting, get involved and stay in touch with a lot of members.
I'm also happy with my recovery to date - I'm a far more honest and decent person. I try and do the right things and behave in the most appropriate way.
My next challenge is to recognise and address what led me to gambling. I watched the In Therapy: Daniella Westbrook progarmme the other day and a lot of the feelings resonated with me. Perhaps gambling was just the addiction that fllled the void between the "real me" and "what I felt me was like". It could have been any addiction perhaps? In short, perhaps I need to address issues of self-confidence and self-esteem. An ongoing retrospective....
Great open meeting last night....astonished and amazed to see 2 guys travel from Middlesbrough to Liverpool for it.
Superb unity and mutual support throughout the GA fellowship.
Interesting question gary, would any of your members do the same? Do they attend meetings around them. Looking at the GA map there's two other meetings around your group Pensby and Liverpool Huyton.
Interesting to answer as well 🙂 Pensby is quite new, on the same night and through a toll tunnel although I'm planning to attend next week.
Huyton is a Steps meeting so slightly different again.
There are another 8 meetings in Merseyside in GA Northwest and some people do get around to other meeting although I'd say most (myself included) like the same meeting and it works.
That said, yesterday was perhaps the kick up the b*m I need to venture around a bit ; although other family responsibilites can make other nights problematic.
Unity at its best pleased to see it went well and you are continuing to reap the rewards of GA.
Day 837...another action packed weekend with no gambling.
Fri night: Stepson's football presentation. A few raffles and spot the balls going on but know the drill here. I give some money to the missus at the start of the night (think of it as charitable giving) and she buys the tickets and the picks the numbers. I have no interest in any of the winnings. Had a great night and he won a couple of trophy's to cap it off nicely.
Sat - down to mid-Wales for a BBQ with some good friends. Lots of food, drink and laughter with people I'd isolated myself from.
Sun - early start home as stepson had a JuJitsu tournament. Then sneaked in 18 holes of golf before watching the end of the Open (great to watch these things with no wager on them).
In between, lots of walks and cuddles with my pooch.
Am loving recovery and what it's given me.
Hi Gary another of my GA buddies, thanks for your support ive found you an inspiration to me and am delighted to follow in your footsteps, our paths will cross one day in the 3D world untill then you will have to do with me on here.
KTF
Day 841...can't believe the week has flown by so quick.
Got to another GA meeting last night..it's been a while since I got to a different room from my usual group,. As there were fewer there, it gave a good opportunity to discuss things in a little more depth. It staved off a little bit of complacency and also gave me opportunity to tell my full story and journey (possibly inadvertently missing things out). A good, positive experience.#
A relatively quiet weekend planned, have been hectic for the last couple of months and been away for most weekends.....which is great but will appreciate the opportunity to unwind, relax and recharge the batteries.
Day 844....nice, quiet weekend as planned, A little bit of R&R, a bit of golf, a nice Rioja and some DIY. All in all, one of the quiet weekends I craved when gambling.
Payday on Wednesday...another chance to punch a hole in my debts and not a reason to go crazy.
Had a slight crisis on our GA group's What's App group on Friday night. One of the newer members was struggling with urges but was great to see him "put it out there" and get the necessary support to see him through. Unity in action.
Trying to get a bit fitter, so have been cycling to work. Just need to limit what fuel I'm imbibing I think.
Enjoy your meeting this week Gary 🙂
Day 849
Busy few days in work but got through it. Managed to get to the 2nd half of my GA meeting on Thursday but that's better than nothing.
Met up with some other members for beers last night...great to catch up in a social situation.
Golf this morning (with sore head) and out with wife and son for a meal this evening.
Life is good and I cherish the normality away from this destructive illness
Day 862.
Off on holidays later today but yet to get into the holiday mood. Been pulled in quite a few directions work wise and also trying to arrange some respite care for my dad while we're away. Hopefully the first beer at the airport will release some of the pressure and I can quickly unwind.
Nice to have a holiday all paid for and no debts to worried about when I get back. No rushing to intercept the post before the wife gets to it, no deleting messages from the house phone, no frantic hiding in the toilets at the airport taking out a payday loan to cover future committments.
All in all, I'm in a good place. Honesty and hardwork does bring the rewards.
Have a fab time. Well deserved
Best wishes
Garyl1976 wrote:
Day 862.
Off on holidays later today but yet to get into the holiday mood. Been pulled in quite a few directions work wise and also trying to arrange some respite care for my dad while we're away. Hopefully the first beer at the airport will release some of the pressure and I can quickly unwind.
Nice to have a holiday all paid for and no debts to worried about when I get back. No rushing to intercept the post before the wife gets to it, no deleting messages from the house phone, no frantic hiding in the toilets at the airport taking out a payday loan to cover future committments.
All in all, I'm in a good place. Honesty and hardwork does bring the rewards.
Enjoy. You'll be missed. tc tri
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