Give peace a chance

Hi Stephen

Hope you are well, so pleased to see those numbers clocking up , absolutely love somewhere over the rainbow , tge words seem very fitting for getting through a struggle. Well done Stephen you are doing fantastic.

Annie x

Thankyou for visiting my diary, the support means a lot to me.

Mixer.... You bring so much energy and wisdom to the diaries. Enjoying the Guru Challenge which you run so well.

Sharon... As always you are my guiding star, always 56 days up ahead and shining brightly.

Annie.....Wonderful to see you enjoying life. 76 days since you last gambled and looking forward with hope in your heart.

Merry go round mentioned in her diary that she had read Desiderata at a meeting last night. Its a beautiful poem and I think it woud have been very moving, people can sometimes be inspired by the words. Several artists have added music and turned it into a song.

My music selection today is Desiderata by Les Crane. Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence.

Hello Diary . Day 131 has been a lot of fun .

The induction for my 10 week creative writing course went well, the teacher seemed very good. Am also starting an English Course next monday to help with my grammar ( that's free ).

Went from there to the gym for a swim and a steam, good exercise and a bit of a social thing.

Salsa class was good tonight, I managed to get the moves right for a change, stayed after the class for some freestyle which was fun. Talking to Sue and Dean who are aware of my gambling past, they were really happy with my progress so that made me feel good.

Good morning, Stephen, and may I be one of the first to welcome you to a glorious Day 132!

I'm in Day 40 now, still in the foothills, but I have the tools and resolve to climb the mountain, every day ascending another step.

I am delighted your creative writing course started well nice night; it is something I'd seriously like to consider, as it happens.

May I ask, though, about your first lesson late yesterday, was it a dark and stormy night :)?

Seriously, though, as we know, being gambling free opens so many doors that we didn't even see before; and we thought normal life might have been 'boring' - no way! The only thing that's been constraining us is ourselves.

I doff my cap to you, Stephen, on your 132nd day and rest assured I will always be 92 days behind you.
All the very best, as always,
Mixer

Thankyou Mixer. Definitely could write about the dark and stormy nights I've trudged home without any money, that would be more a farce than a mystery though.

The creative writing course does look like it will be fun and it's something else to do instead of gambling.Bit different to last time I was in school, I didn't get whacked on the head with a ruler !

Congratulations on 40 Days GF, trekking through the foothills and all geared up for some serious mountain climbing. As a tribute to your recovery, my music choice today reflects on the arduous journey that we all must make. I like the chorus.

Mountain Climbing by Joe Bonamassa...... Ain't no map to follow, just follow your own path -- Get close to the edge and there's no turning back -- The wind and the rain gonna push you around -- Hard times try to break you, don't ever let 'em back you down.

Hi Stephen, thanks for posting and great to hear you enjoyed the first installment of your course, who knows what this could lead to? I totally agree with Mixer that a GF life opens up a world of opportunities to be had. The English course sounds like a good 5 hinge too, I am continually inspired by how you make the most of your time, where as I feel super lazy but am attempting to make an effort to do more. I also downloaded an app to assist quitting drinking which is another goal in itself. Have a great GF day, take care S:)

Hi Stephen, I'm listening to today's track as I type, sinking in the words, and the sentiment - thank you for the tribute today! Great bass and melody on the track too; and the riffs build up slowly, powerfully ... not rushed.

Sharon, I agree, the opportunities that a gambling-free open up are amazing. And it makes you want to do more because it becomes more worthwhile. Which made me think: as a gambler, I would have perhaps 'heard' Stephen's song today had I been introduced to it ... but being gambling-free I'm actually sitting back and listening to it. A world of difference.

When gambling, we percieve the sound, but it just 'happens' in passing - we hear. A 'tinny' mono.

But when gambling free, we consiously choose to concentrate; we process and understand the sound - we listen. We truly enjoy. A glorious, deep, stereo. We turn the volume up. We listen to the next track .....

Which for the record, is another from Joe Bonamassa - "Driving Towards The Daylight" - which includes the following lyrics...

Driving towards the daylight
Running from the midnight
Trying to get my way home.

That's what we're all doing 🙂

Thankyou for posting on my diary. Great to share the views and opinions of friends.

Sharon....No doubt about it, not gambling frees up a lot of time for more productive pastimes. If there's something I want to do I can be full of enthusiasm but if I don't want to do something I will put it off for ages. I could have been living the dream but went down the compulsive gambling road, which turned out to be a real nightmare. I imagine your far from being a lazy bones , single mum going out to work, looking after the family home, raising a young daughter ! It sounds like a lot of hard work to me. I stopped drinking alcohol almost 27 years ago but many people drink alcohol in moderation and get a lot of pleasure from it, which is good, unfortunately I was unable to drink sensibly and it contributed to my downfall. I also stopped smoking 16 plus years ago. If I stop anything else i'm just going to go and check in the nearest monastry !

Mixer....Thanks for pointing out that other track by Joe Bonamassa, really enjoyed it. That guitar instrumental is absolutely brilliant. Like you so rightly say we can enjoy things more when our minds are not twisted up with thoughts of gambling.Sadly the thoughts of gambling don't just go away, and if they get a foot in the door they can torment us for hours, good news is these thoughts will not last forever and everyday we get stronger.

Hello Diary. Feeling good, had a stroll to the pier and the marina earlier, watched some small ships going down river heading for the North Sea and than off to wherever. The fresh sea air, the cool breeze and all the lights in the distance, quite wonderful, makes me glad to be alive. Sadly the nearby Humber Bridge is a popular choice for those poor souls who can't take any more, the thought of what must have gone through their minds is distressing. Their must be many reasons why people reach such a state of despair, I imagine addiction will sometimes be a factor.

My music choice for today is Live your life by Erick Morillo.....Sometimes you just need to let go -- Don't keep it all inside -- Sometimes you just have to let the whole world know -- That you are going to be alright

Hello Diary. 134 Days GF. Yesterday was an up and down sort of a day, amongst other things the weather seems to influence my mood, having been rainy windy and dull.

It saddens me to read of the misery and despair brought about by addiction. Insidious is the word I think best describes it.

Just been reading about Rave legend Guru Josh ( Paul Weldon ) . Committed suicide 28th December 2015 aged just 51. He had been battling depression and drug addiction, his girlfriend finished with him a couple of days earlier and maybe that was just the final straw. Fame and fortune, loved by thousands but it just wasn't enough !

My music choice today is Infinity by Guru Josh.....Here's my key -- Philosophy -- A freak like me - Just needs infinity - Relax - Take your time - And take your time to trust in me - And you will find infinity

Thought provoking stuff, some people seem to have everything but it's still not enough for them. Who knows what's going on in others minds and also comes back to that old chestnut money doesn't make you happy. On a lighter note you really have turned things around during your 134 days(and previously with drinking and smoking) this kind of determination and commitment is priceless. Happy Friday Stephen S:)

Hi Stephen and hope you're having a good Friday; just listening to Guru Josh and a tune that you can lie back to and put onto repeat for hours... it soothes the soul.

Very interesting (and sad) about the fate of Guru Josh (Note to Robf: Not a real Guru!!!). There's such a condition called 'Paradise Syndrome', where, even if you have it all, you can still be very unhappy and any upset can put you on a very bad tilt... he, and many others, have been touched by this.

As recovering gamblers, having been through the wars, we can relate to this in a parellel context of losing it all, but getting it back. We are grateful we have the acumen, spirit and determination to put this insidious (that's exactly the word Stephen) condition in abeyance. If we fail (and, personally, I cannot and will not fail again: life or misery, the simple question) we immediately get up again.

Here's to a great weekend. Another payday coming up for me, the second whilst gambling free; another payday that will be put to good use, not a penny gambled. I am going to finish the month with a 100% return!

And your mood, like mine, will brighten up for sure - we've a mini-heatwave coming up this next few days! The 'gods' are shining on us!

All the best mate.

Hi Stephen, good to hear from you and glad you're feeling more chipper today. Babble away!! Sometimes I can't think of much to say except every GF day is a good day Also I do read diaries everyday which helps me understand what I've been through etc, This has been a real awakening for me, for years I was in some kind of haze that I thought I would never escape from. So happy weekend and here's to our continuation of not gambling, take care S:)

Thankyou Sharon & Mixer, only today I was wondering where I would be now without the support of friends like yourselves. I would most likely have just carried on giving everything to the fat cat bookies. Something has really clicked with me since I started my diary, I don't feel isolated like I used to. I also know that any kind of life is better than the crazy world of compulsive gambling. Thankyou....stephen

Hi Stephen. Thanks for your posts on my diary - I appreciate your uplifting comments.

Wonderful news that you have started your creative writing course. Let your creative mind capture every word.

I love your song choices which really are thought provoking, and often give a bucket-load-of-inspiration.

Life is like a song - It's up to you and your heart to write the lyrics.

P.s. thanks for your scrambled message ( soz, coz I gave up after 2 lines)! Yes, my Acronym is scramble but it may become 'defined' in the future.