Give peace a chance

Hi Stephen,

Great song choice, I always liked that Dodi track. I'm a bit quieter at the moment; sinking in a financial hit with my job but I have a choice; wallow in self-pity or get on with it. It's always good to take stock and absorb bad news, but so know, like you, Sharon and everyone we must remain gambling free. I truly have no choice now; my new situation has focussed my mindset somewhat! However, we all have our battles to face and hills to climb. Bring GF is the only way to be if we are to give ourselves any chance of dealing with them.

Enjoy your weekend Stephen.

Thankyou Mixer. Hang in their my friend, your doing a great job. Whatever difficulties come our way, things would be a whole lot worse if we were lost in gambling.

Thankyou Sharon. Enjoyed the post on your diary this morning, it made me think of my music choice for today.

Return To Innocence by Enigma .....That's not the beginning of the end - That's the return to yourself - The return to innocence.

Aaah perfect, just before I read this I thought it'S so good to enjoy doing 'normal' stuff and not waste time and money chasing losses or winning then losing it all again. Then having to deal with the fall out. Hope you're having a relaxing day S:)

Mixer wrote:

May I add my congratulations on this very special day. Hope it's a good one Stephen. Here's to your continued health and happiness!

I'm sorry, I seem to have flagged this post accidently as abuse. Please accept my apologies....

Sharon ... Thankyou for the post, your description of gambling is spot on, "chasing losses or winning and than giving it back", how crazy is that! Daft thing is we know we're doing it.

Moorey ... Pleased your back amongst us, I've posted on your diary.

We can now look at the options available to us. The choices we make define our life and influence the future, when faced with uncertainty we can hold on to our hope for a better tomorrow. My song selection today is ... Hold On by Dina Carroll ...Gotta live your life the way you choose - Learn from the changes you go through - And hold on - Deal with the problems that you find - It'll get better the more you try to hold on.

Morning Diary.... Reflecting on the gamble free times in my life when everything was starting to look rosy, than along came the madness and I was back to square one. Reading of friend's relapses seems to ring a bell, my past behaviour is obviously not uncommon amongst compulsive gamblers. Are some of us maybe a little masochistic!

My song choice today is .... Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage ....I'm only happy when it rains - I'm only happy when it's complicated - And though I know you can't appreciate it - I'm only happy when it rains.

Abstainer wrote:

Morning Diary.... Reflecting on the gamble free times in my life when everything was starting to look rosy, than along came the madness and I was back to square one. Reading of friend's relapses seems to ring a bell, my past behaviour is obviously not uncommon amongst compulsive gamblers. Are some of us maybe a little masochistic!

My song choice today is .... Only Happy When It Rains by Garbage ....I'm only happy when it rains - I'm only happy when it's complicated - And though I know you can't appreciate it - I'm only happy when it rains.

Hi Stephen, I've just been reading through your inspirational diary mate. Congratulations, firstly on reaching your 150 days gamble free and also your birthday last week. You're a true warrior on this GamCare site. Somebody who I aspire to be like one day. I'm at the start of my journey but I look forward to hitting some milestones of my own. Keep up the good work mate.

Moorey

Hi Stephen

Glad to read you are still gamble free, 166 days, no meat feat. The way to keep the madness at bay is by making sure there is no first bet, without that first bet the madness is locked in a cage forever. That first bet no matter how large or small, won or lost will always remove the padlock where the monster named Madness is held.

Keep going mate.

Matt

Great song choice! Love a bit of Garbage, that Shirley is a feisty one. Gambling does feel like self punishment, you know it'S wrong and what the consequences are but are drawn to it anyway. Then surprise you do it and you're in an even worse place than before, we've all been there 🙁 Have a good GF day, take care S:)

I second that Sharon. The madness of gambling even when we know of the consequences and probable outcome. When we think of all the times that we succumbed to the gambling urges, resulting in more financial losses and torture of the mind...

Hi Stephen. I hope you're doing well and making the most of the new-found opportunities with positive vitality.

How is your creative writing course going? I'm sure you get stuck into the assignments with vigor and glee, whilst listening to the music of life.

Smile - like your on top of the world. Sing and dance - like no other will judge. Cherish each special moment - captured in time.

Hi Stephen; I'm enjoying your song choices immensely. And as usual, made me think. When I think of rain, I think, great - bloody rain.

But being gambling free, and genuinely gambling free, we can reflect on everything. And look at everything afresh. And how refreshing the rain can be. The pitter patter is quite relaxing actually. The extra angles you get with life being gambling free.

Enjoying your dairy immensely, Stephen, wishing you well, as always my friend.

Thankyou for the posts on my diary which are greatly appreciated.

Moorey ... your friends are all happy having you back amongst us. I recently read a great post by ODAAT, "If your having a bad day, just remember that you've managed to get through every bad day you've had and you'll make it through this one too!"

Matt ... Your recovery highlights just what can be achieved by stopping the gambling madness; "The way to keep the madness at bay is by making sure there is no first bet." ... It really is that simple and I believe it is definitely achievable.

Sharon ... It is strange that we gamble whilst knowing full well of the consequences of our actions, and the misery waiting for us round the corner. You are a great reminder that with courage and tenacity, we can get our freedom back.

Changemylife ... Thankyou for the uplifting sentiments "Smile like your on top of the world. Sing and dance like no one will judge. Cherish each special moment captured in time." Pleased to say I managed all that last night in the City Hall with songs from the 50's 60's 70's & 80's (great music and a lot of fun). Creative Writing class was cancelled yesterday but I am enjoying it.

Mixer ....Thankyou so much for all your encouragement, you are a real inspiration to myself and many others. I frequently have a meander through Mixer Woods to get my head sorted out in a tranquil environment.

Hello Diary .... Seems to be positive vibes running through the diaries just now. Would be great to see all our friends enjoying a gamble free Christmas (2 months today). Enjoyed reading Merry go rounds post this morning, a clued-up lady married to a cg, I tend to go there when I need a reality check.

Today's song choice is courtesy of 'Smashed' and taken from his diary this morning ....Another Day by Buckshot LeFonque ....Sometimes I tell myself i'm better off without you - And than I have to face the emptiness I feel inside without you - And find a way to make it through the day.

Morning, thankyou! Sometimes I think if I was that clued-up would I be here? Have a great day!

Hi Stephen hope you're well? Just going to a throw a song into the mix here..'Morning has broken' just thinking today without being too full on that every day, good or bad is a gift and the thing that has got me threw rough patches is waking up knowing I didn't gamble the day before. Just small steps and gradually things get easier. I obviously haven't dismissed my debts (they will be there for a while) but money is replaceable but time isn't. Odaat definitely gets quote of the week! Take care and hope you have a super GF day S:)