I'm coming out of my cage.......

Hey everyone!!

Thanks for checking in to my diary - with being away I've been trying to get caught up at work and stuff.

Dear Diary,

So Day 47 is almost at an end and the weekend is upon us. I'm more confident going into this weekend - a few things planned to keep my mind off the other usual Saturday attraction, plus the big 5-0 is just a few days away so that will keep me strong.

I have found this week tough on the forum - is it just me that feels that there's a lot of "wobbling" going in right now? A number of relapses, a couple of people 'accepting' that a fiver on a coupon on a Saturday is ok (I'm not saying it's not, just not for me though) and others just facing really difficult times.......plus it's pay day for most of us in the next few days.

What's good is that there's a band on us still going strong and sticking together - ill hunt you down!! Lol!!

I'm loving being a recovering CG if that makes sense? Finding I'm less embarrassed talking about it, more confident telling people closer to me and while I wish I was never a CG in the first place, accepting I am, but being a recovering CG sounds so much better.

A quick apology just going back to something I referred to earlier - I've not really been reading a lot of diaries this week - as I've said, I've kinda struggled with some of the undertones of the forum. However, Linda, Lou, Phil, ashamed, Amanda, Julie.......I'm still watching and urging you on, plus a number of the other guys in the challenge too - my comrades!!!!

Hope you all have a great weekend,

Mr Brightside

PS can't believe Forest drew with Preston tonight - not what we needed!!!

Mr Brightside.

Fella it is so good to read your resolve grows, approaching a milestone to boot, 50 days taking your life back, for that be very proud.

Regards other folks recovery and continued abstinence all you can do is keep offering the outstanding support you already are doing through the great support you are offering, it is a sadly true statistic that only 3% of compulsive gamblers abstain for a calendar year, something I would love to and am committed to see grow.

With folk like you by my side the job is all the more enjoyable.

for it I thank you, keep taking the medicine!!

duncs stepping forward never back.

Thanks for the encouragement Duncs - always appreciated from you fella!!

So, this is going to be short, sharp and to the point......

50 days today free from gambling!!!!

Woop woop!!

That's all.........apart from.......

I am out of my cage, the door will never close, but I'm more determined than ever to go back into it......'cos I'm Mr Brightside!!!

congrats on 50 fella. You are an inspiration to all, your efforts to help whether it be words of encouragement and more recently the time you take to administer the yearly GF page, a credit to yourself, your family and all GC users. Enjoy your day and look forward to 51.

Yours in recovery.

Del 167 GF days 🙂

Just popped by to say hello to you Mr B! Super glad your doing soo well! 50 days what a huge achievement! Read your whole diary over the weekend and must say your soo positive! An absolute inspiration! All I do on my diary is moan but I got lots out of reading yours!

Totally agree with what your saying about being more open about your gambling.. I feel much more confident talking to people about it now!

Again well done on the milestone!

Beth :o)

Congratulations Mr B! Today is a massive milestone on this long journey and you have made it - I look forward to see you reaching many more!

Well done and keep going! x

Hey Mr B

Just wanted to say a huge well done on making it to 50 days! You should be very proud of yourself as we all are here and thank you so much for giving up so much of your time for the challenge! xxxx

Linda

Julie, Linda, Beth, Samorgo, Delboy...........thanks all so much for the kind words and congrats.........I find myself writing on others diaries that they should be proud...........but feeling proud of anything is such a hard thing to do I think for a CG, isn't it?

Maybe it's the 50 days, maybe it's a sign of recovery, possibly it's knowing that I got paid today and my finances stand half a chance of being fixed in the coming year, maybe it's the love of my family, or it could be the amazing people I've met on this forum........or more than likely it's a combination of all of them and more............but you know........

For the first time in many years, for today I do actually feel a wee bit proud!

I am Mr Brightside x

I think a big part of recovery is to be proud of our achievements each and everyday we do not place a bet, with pride comes acceptance of who we are and our efforts to become better people not just for family but for ourselves.

Del

well well well my new found friend.. I'm so proud that i'm on this journey with you!! Your the guy on my tail that i hope i never shake off.. once we make it from Glasgow to London, hell, i'm then heading to Australia on foot, haha.. so i reckon that's another 2-3 years NO GAMBLING so i'll be looking to you to keep on my tail for that journey also.. hell, i need someone to look out for me eh!

Very well done mate.. 50 days.. excellent achievement. as is my 65 days. We should both be proud. Its not been easy. Agree, us CG's find it hard to recognise achievement and are really very hard on ourselves.. however, i'm working on that and hopefully you are also.

CHOOSE LIFE i say! Look forward to posting on your diary again when you hit 100 days and i'll be my usual 15 days ahead of you.. i reckon we will be at Carlisle by then haha..

Cheers and keep strong.

Craig

Hey, buddy! All good here and belated 50th, if I was the same day, instead of a day behind you, we would have had a telegram from the Queen to celebrate our 100th! And Linda could have brought the candles and shared the cake!

KEEP STRONG and massive personal thanks for the continued motivation.xx

Hi

Thank you for checking in with me, I am still going lol by a thread at some points but still going 🙂

Hope you are alright and doing well.

Amanda

Hey everyone - so so chuffed at all the posts for my 50th and the encouragement you guys give me - can't believe the family spirit we have.

So, not a lot to report today - Day 52, going strong, growing in confidence, gaining peace, family trusting and guard still up. As I say, not a lot, but it's the quality, not the quantity!!

Stay strong everyone,

Mr Brightside

Hey mr B,

Oh..i seem to miss ur big 50..anyway, better later than never!! Very welldone for ur milestone, i wish more of them to come.

Keep up the geat work, day at a time will get u where u want to be!!

Take care

Sandra x

Hi there,

Just been catching up on your thread, fifty days gamble free is no mean feat, and as you say its important to keep your guard up.

As for feeling proud passing that milestone, I think that it is fair to have a little something to feel proud of. Gambling sucks away at our self esteem so that we can sometimes feel as though we are nothing, and can achieve nothing. Keep up the good work, and I also hope there's plenty more milestones in the future for you.

Ryan