My Recovery Diary (last bet 22/04/06 )

Jim

Hope the tooth/mouth is better now.Short story - went to the coast today - wife wanted an ice cream - only place selling them - inside anusement arcade. Felt almost like cheating to go inside - very wary - very strange. Antway, went in (with the wife) and straight out - just thought how sad it is to be addicted - even though i'm an addict (but fighting it). You're right - together we will all beat this!!

Good to hear about Torquay.

All the best

Hatch

had a nice day today, went out for lunch with my wife and our dog. lovely meal in a pub facing the sea.

had to do something to celebrate torquays win against bury..lucky indeed!!!!

nothing to say about gambling really, only that I havent bet and had no inclination to bet...guess it doesnt get much better than that.

hope you all had a good weekend too.

all the best

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Hi Jim

Sounds like you had a nice day. I HAVE BEEN STUCK AT WORK ALL DAY, BUT HOPEFULLY MY RELIEF WILL BE HERE IN 5 MINS, finish a ten tonight. Whoops... sorry had caps lock on!

Its funny, when i think of your posts, i know that you are not going to gamble again, but i am really glad that you take the time to post regularly. I for one, like to see how you are getting on, and its not always about the gambling.

I think at the start it is, but then after a while, there becomes comfort in like minded freinds talking about everyday things and sharing good times and stories about hard times and recoveries.

I read a post of yours before about this site becoming a "community" and i truly believe in that!

It is transcending gambling, slowly but surely, and helping people find real strength for the future.

All the best to you mate and enjoy your week.

Magic

Another good day today.

I know that i will get some bad days again but i hope that the strength i draw from this forum will help me get through those.

in the mean time I am just enjoying my non gambling life..one day at a time.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Hi Jim,

Jim

Don't you find now that good days outweigh the bad? As you approach 5 months gamble free I like the fact that you're still honest and on your guard - we could still fail but we won't as long as we have people like you Jim to help us and warn us against the dangers. Life has changed for you mate - bloody hell - even Torquay are winning LOL.

All the best

Hatch

Hi Gull

What a great post from Kim--is'nt nice for a non compulsive gambler to give people like us praise--not something we got too used to in our old lives.

Cannot remember anybody saying 'Well done on betting on that horse--sorry it lost old mate but hard luck'

Keep up the great work Gull

Stumper

Jim

Just a quick touch base - thanks for the post, help & support.

You really are a diamond!!

All the best

Hatch

Ditto, just touching base Jim, keep posting, mate -

O

i have been thinking recently about counting the days since i last had a bet or whether it is better to look to the future.

for me personally i think it is important to count the days, i like to see how far I have come. i also see the day that i decided to stop gambling as a sort of start of a new life, a new birthday.

maybe it is daft, i dont know, but i dont want to forget that i was a gambler, i want to remind myself of the person i was, because if i forget then i may forget to fight against the urges to gamble.

i truly believe that the reason i started gambling after three years of stopping was because i had forgotten what i was like, i had forgotten the pain and suffering i caused myself and others around me, i had forgotten that i was a compulsive gambler.

It is sad that i feel that i have to remind myself all of the time but I believe that it is the only way to keep this addiction in check.

I fully accept what i am and that is a compulsive gambler and i think that i will always be one. the best i can hope for is that i can control my urges and to do that i need to remind myself of what i am.

so i will continue to celebrate the day that i stopped gambling and will continue to use that date as my sig.

Jim (last bet 22/04/06)

Hi Jim, what a day 22/04/06 was eh?

Why not celebrate the fact that that was you last gambling day? Reflecting on the past does not stop us looking to the future mate so if it works for you I say carry on.

Skippy

Hi Jim,

I can understand what you're saying. Like you, I feel that it is partially by remembering what gambling did to me - or rather, what I allowed it to do to me - that I can stay clean. Your story is salutory, you went a long time (3 years compared to my 3 months!), and it still got you in the end. I can only imagine what 3 years must be like, and if I ever get there, like you I would probably imagine that I was 'cured'. So counting the days, or at least remembering where we used to be, is an important part of the armoury, I think. Like skip says, if it works for you, great.

Looking forward to reading more from you, as ever,

O

Jim

Could not agree with you more - I think our problems are caused by our personalities - we're all pretty similar by the sounds of things in many ways. Our personalities aren't gonna change that much - our habits yes - but not our personalities! Like you I constantly need to remind myself and be on my guard.......or - well, we all know what can happen!

Your a wise soul Jim - good on you!

All the best

Hatch

well i am fast aproaching my five month date (next friday).

i still feel strong and confident that this time i will succeed, and i hope that anyone who is reading this can gain strentgh and stay gambling free with me.

this is a journey we are making together and together we can continue, day by day..step by step.

good luck to you all

jim (last bet 22/04/06)

yes i think that is the case jim

it was good to chat with you tonight on msn and in chat.

take care, and stay safe

today is a good day, and i am living every moment to my full potential