Give peace a chance

Hello Diary Day 143 GF. No more the fool, i'm gonna be cool. Lots of good stuff going on in Hull this year as we're the City of Culture. At the moment it's all about poetry and performance ( dramas / plays / music ), all good stuff, something for everyone and it's been well supported.

Sunday so I will stick with the 'Higher Power' theme for my music choice today which is ....Mercy On Me by Christina Aguilera ....Well, the more that I start to play -- My deceitful, evil ways -- Keep on growing stronger by the day.

Religious beliefs are a personal choice so I won't go down that road, although I do believe my angels are happy to give me guidance. The stumbling block is whether or not I am prepared to listen and act on their advice. Anyway I really like Christina Aguilera and she sings this with a lot of passion.

Morning Stephen, great to have all that culture to so up around you! I'm up and ready to go, will get house up together and then have a few hours to myself, when I was in the G trap I would have squandered this time(not to mention the money!) So that makes the time today even better. Have a great Sunday Stephen and will check out your song selection. Take care S:)

Thankyou Sharon. Congratulations and respect for your 200 Days GF. As well as fighting your own battles you have given support and encouragement to your GamCare friends.

Our fight against gambling addiction is the mother of all battles, it takes courage and an iron will. We need to be tough but not in a physical way, the toughness has got to come from somewhere within us.

Hello Diary. I had a great day Sunday mostly spent listening to famous poets reading there work at different venues, the BBC where broadcasting some of it. My favourite was a lady called Imtiaz Dharker who was brilliant, I bought her book which she signed for me.

I am 67 this month and hoping I can still salvage something from a life messed up by gambling addiction. Hope so . My music choice today is .... Don't let the sun go down on me by Elton John.... Don't let the sun go down on me -- Although I searched myself it's always someone else I see -- I'd just allow a fragment of your life to wander free -- But losing everything is like the sun going down on me.

Another great track Abstainer and the lyrics so profoundly true about what we have to lose - it is too much to risk.

Here's a thought for you in your birthday month. The average age for someone in this country is 83 for a Male. That implies, with a fair wind and bit of good fortune, you've got 17 years to go, on average.

But it's actually better than that. You need to discount all those souls who have already (sadly) passed. That pushes the average up for you, given you're in your 67th year. Recalculating ups your average to 86!

That's twenty years, on average, of life to go, life instead of misery. A GF life is always of a better quality 🙂

There's plenty of life in us old dogs yet Abstainer - and more than you might have thought 🙂

All the very best

Mixer

Ha ha Mixer thanks for that uplifting post. Lifes a breeze now I'm not giving my money to the fat cat bookies.

Hello Diary. I seem to be seeing plenty of friends with substantial gamble free time, that is fantastic and a reminder that recovery is there for the taking. A few days ago Alan reached 2 Years - Yesterday was Sharons turn with 200 Days - Today it's Matt on the podium with 1 Year. Also notice many people on the Challenges racking up the days, which is just brilliant.

No doubt about it, compulsive gambling is crazy and the addict knows what the outcome is going to be. Why than do we act like fools. For the sake of a little excitement ( The Buzz ) we put ourselves and our loved ones through misery and despair.

I am Stephen, it is 145 day's since I last gambled. I am a compulsive gambler. I am commited to my recovery. Today I choose not to gamble. My musical choice is ...No more the fool by Elkie Brooks ....​No more the fool who waits around, waiting for you to bring me down - Those days are gone now - No more the nights lying awake, crying and waiting for the day to break - No more the sound as my dreams fall, and hit the ground while I wait around - No more the fool .....

Good old Elkie! Singing from the heart.

I love your uplifting posts stephen. OK life may sometimes be a struggle - but lets wear a smile. We're living the dream.

I guess we're all still kinda living on the edge, but in a happy way now that we've sussed out the temptations from the gambling goblin and got him firmly by the b.alls!

When I say living on the edge - I mean that we are thinking more deeply, we consider others; but at the same time, personally, I feel adrenaline within - propelling me to live my life better than ever before. Perhaps like you said, making up for all them lost years gambling - stuck in a miserly, dismal rut. I still shudder to think of the loss of control, the anger and desperation.

Seriously, we need more joy in our lives and people make this happen. You Stephen are one of those people.

145 days Stephen, hope your have a super GF and thank you for reminding me of some great music! Elie Brooks what a voice. Carl Simon is another one of my faves. Enjoy whatever this day may bring, take care S:)

Thanks for posting on my diary Stephen, I hope to make it 145. I know I can.

Hi Stephen

Close to 150 days and then it will soon be half a year. Just think what you have achieved in this time and what you can enjoy now some shackles have been broken......your friends, finances, creative writing, music and of course your diary and support of others journey's.

We are all walking the same path at different stages and can draw strength from each other, your care and empathy for others shines through.

Take care my friend.

Matt

Hi Stephen :)) .

The day's are racking up for many on the forum as you rightly pointed out and that's great for everyone on the forum to see , some occasionally have a few bumps along the way but with yourself and many others on here to pick them up when they do there's alway's a way forward , it's great to be united with a common goal :))

Just a quick pop by to Wish you well my friend on 145 day's of winning for real and to say " Keep up the great post's and positivity around the forum " :))

Alan

Fantastic song choice today Stephen, certainly one of the more powerful ballads out there. A fine choice.

And we're living the life. I saw my counsellor tonight (session 6 of 12). He said - enjoy the beauty of the world around us.

And he is right. I said to him, I love the colours, the shades, the shadows, the hues ... there's so much to enjoy just by looking around us.

He then told me he was colour blind and only saw things in pale, pastel shades - he didn't see vivid, bright colours.

I was very saddened by this, but vow to appreciate what others are sadly not blessed with.

Being Gambling Free adds another level of appreciation of the life we're given.

And I also appreciate your inspiring posts, Stephen 🙂

Thankyou friends for the posts on my diary.

Afraid i'm feeling a bit down in the dumps today ! Don't know why but I do know it will pass.

My music choice today is ....Won't back down by Tom Petty ..... Well I won't back down -- No, I won't back down -- You can stand me by the gates of hell -- But I won't back down.

Tom Petty was 3 days younger than me when he passed away aged 66. A stark reminder of my own vulnerability. I really don't want to die a gambling addict.

Hey Stephen :))

Sorry to hear your not feeling so great today :(( but I beg to differ about not" dying a Gambling addict " as you stopped being that person 146 day's ago , look to the future mate not the past . I feel exactly like you at times as I'm 57 now and I think back to wasted years in some bookies hell hole but neither I nor you can recover those lost years so it's about having twice as much fun being gamble free now :)) .

And your right " We won't back down " .

Keep your " P****r " up Stephen :))

That last word wasn't arude one either it just said " P ecker " :))

Alan - blimey, we can't even use the word P ecker - bang goes the article about Wood******s I was going to write tonight 🙂

Abstainer - We are all constantly reminded by our own mortality which makes us all respect life all the more ... and Alan is right - you're free of gambling, for 146 days and counting, one day at a time. Free of it, and simply reminding yourself of the daily vow to remain just so.

RIP Tom Petty.