Hi Stephen congrats on reaching the 150 day mark my friend. Keep going, keep inspiring and keep up that guard and embrace the challenge ahead, don't fear it.
Low self esteem is indeed the key so listen to us when we say......you are inspiring people to continue their journey's and we are all in this together so lets continue to enjoy our gamble free lives. The addiction has made us act out of our true character but no way are we worthless and horrible. We are strong, kind, empathetic, dedicated and above all else determined to live without the shackles of addiction and to help others achieve that too.
Keep going Stephen, maybe you should change your username to DJ Abstainer 🙂
Matt
Many thanks for the post on my diary Matt. Your posts are always positive, practical and encouraging. It's good now and than to be reminded that we're all together, fighting the same insidious addiction. Sometimes we feel good in our recovery and sometimes we don't, but surely nobody amongst us would want to go back to the misery that is compulsive gambling. It is so tragic to see friends writing about gambling as if it's something a bit naughty from the past.
As you so rightly say we must forever be on our guard against an enemy who will masquerade as our friend offering us all kinds of goodies. We all know better than that, we're not stupid. We've had the experience of being helpless gambling addicts, now we can experience using our own free will. Some friends may have very difficult life's but gambling can only make it worse.
Hi Stephen,
Just passing by to say hello, hope you're keeping well and hoping life's treating you well ... that's all!
Mixer
A slightly belated 150th Stephen! You've come a long way and every milestone on the journey is a good cause for celebration.
Your posts are always colourful and inspiring, as you show appreciation and respect for others.
It certainly made me laugh - with you getting all dressed up for the African bongo activities, the only one in fancy dress! Humility - another one of your fine characteristics. P.s. love the new profile pic.
Thankyou Mixer and Changemylife for the posts, I have replied in your diaries.
Hello Diary. Was reading earlier about 'Wild Hunt'.A medieval myth recognised throughout Northern Europe. " A ghostly group of supernatural hunters racing across the sky in search of lost souls " to join their cavalcade.
This was picked up on in 1948 by Stan Jones, an american who wrote ' Ghost riders in the sky'. The song tells a folk tale of a cowboy who has a vision of red-eyed, steel-hooved cattle thundering across the sky being chased by the spirits of the dead cowboys. One warns him that if he does not change his ways he will be doomed to join them, forever "trying to catch the Devil's Herd across the endless skies"...... It doesn't take a great leap of the imagination to picture compulsive gamblers replacing the cowboys and chasing slots and fobts across the sky !
The song was first recorded by Vaughn Monroe in 1949 when it was voted the number one song of the year. Since than over 50 artists have recorded it. I like the instrumental version by The Ramrods (1962) and had a great laugh with The Blues Brothers . The Shadows made a good job of it and Debbie Harry gave it an interesting twist........Government Health Warning " Listen to this song and it will be in your head all day "....
My music selection today is Ghost riders in the sky by Johnny Cash
Hi Stephen
Just popping by to say hi, hope you are keeping well. You are doing amazing.
Annie x
Thankyou Annie for posting on my diary, good to know your happy and well. 98 days without gambling is wonderful and pleased to see you are very positive about your recovery.
Hello Diary . Day 153 GF. Yesterday was fun and kept busy with college, swim and salsa class.
Enjoying my gamble free life taking one day at a time. Who knows what tomorrow might bring !
My music choice today is The impossible dream by Frank Sinatra ......To dream the impossible dream - To fight the unbeatable foe - To bear with unbearable sorrow - To run where the brave dare not go # To right the unrightable wrong - To be better far than you are - To try when your arms are too weary - To reach the unreachable star # This is my quest, to follow that star - No matter how hopeless, no matter how far - To be willing to give when there's no more to give - To be willing to die so that honour and justice may live - And I know if i'll only be true to this glorious quest - That my heart will be peaceful and calm when i'm laid down to rest # And the world will be better for this - That one man scorned and covered with scars - Still strove with his last ounce of courage - To reach the unreachable star.
....and again you nail today's music choice! 153 days of GF is fantastic progress and now living the life you deserve. Happy Wednesday S:)
Wow!! The Impossible Dream. Fantastic words that mean so much. I will be listening to ol' Frankie some time soon.
You know when the words hit home to capture the imagination. Epic and powerful. Almost more than life itself. Brings to mind a few unbelievable tracks from yesteryear: Stairway to Heaven, Child In Time & Free Bird.
I'm so pleased to hear that you're still going strong and forging out a better life.
Hello sir Stephen ! 153 days wow just wow I mean I remember when we were just on single digit. Keep up the good work and I am singing "impossible dream" with you . The song reminded me of good memories with my grandparents .
Sars
Evening Stephen and hope all is well with you my friend. I really enjoyed your last post about the awesome mystique and beauty of the moon.
How amazing it is, on a planet in the middle of the vastness of space, to have our very own satellite.
Without the moon, we would have no tides, no waves; incredible natural phenomena.
What a world we can all enjoy and what life is truly about!
I always enjoy your posts Stephen and your joy of life.
Sharon, Changemylife, Sars and Mixer. Thankyou for taking the time to post on my diary, I really appreciate your support.
Many times we see friends who struggle to let the past go, it can be a real obstacle to recovery.
My music choice today is courtesy of 4D who remarked "The past will always be a part of us, but it doesn't have to define our future".....Expecting to fly by Buffalo Springfield ...
Evening Stephen. Just listening to tonight's song choice and widening my repotiore by the day! I'd heard of Dusty Springfield but not Buffalo!
And poignant lyrics as always.
Here's hoping you had a good day and are suitably chilled and relaxed.
Here's to today, and here's to tomorrow.
Evening Mixer and thankyou for the kind words.
Hello Diary. Woke up this morning with a bad cold, coughing and sneezing so not a happy chappy today.
Went for my flu jab appointment but they sent me away because of my cold. Rung college to tell them I wouldn't be at English class today and texted counsellor to cancel my session tomorrow, nobody would want me coughing and sneezing around them.
We are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can also contact us for free on 0808 80 20 133. If you would like to find out more about the service before you start, including information on confidentiality, please click below. Call recordings and chat transcripts are saved for 28 days for quality assurance.
