My story :-)

Just read your diary all the way through, you are doing really well Athena, keep it up.

Seems to me like we have a lot in common, the gambling is down to deeper issues (anxiety...etc...) as I feel is the same with most gamblers. I also gamble when I'm bored, I want to pay off my debts and see it as a quick fix to do so. Gambling just gets us in more debt however, it's just a case of getting in the right frame of mine. It's amazing how much clearer you can feel after just a short time of not gambling, the monster is always there of course but let's keep going 😀 All the best xx

Thanks for everyone's comments! The book is a good shout and am near the end now which has been a great tool for me in the early stages of recovery. I gamble when I'm bored too but already getting the rewards of not gambling. Today I got a text from my local bookie offering me a free bet - I have deleted the message! My thoughts honestly were - Pah! They really think a free bet is going to get me back into that place! No way! Already enjoying my gf life and know it will just get better and better! Although I am adapting and will do for the first few months and maybe even years but know a better me will come out of it.

Making sure today is a gf one!

Athena

Hi Athena

Thank you for offering to help host the Guru Challenge!

It's all very informal and stress-free 🙂 - we simply welcome new members to the challenge, offer messages of support, and just keep things motoring along nicely in our own inimitable styles! We'll work at how we do rollcalls as we go along. The important thing is that your recovery always comes first, your GF journey is the most important and, if this helps you, then all the better 🙂

Thank you Athena and I hope you enjoy a fantastic GF Tuesday 🙂

All the very best

Mixer

Hi Mixer

Thank you for your message - looking forward to helping you with the group and helping others!

I've not done one before so I will follow your lead on things like roll call etc 🙂

Let's make as many people a guru as possible!

Athena

Hi Athena

Hiya and you're doing great! I hadf a crack at the first rollcall tonight, maybe you'd like to do the next one? We'll talk through (on your thread, if it's OK) how it's done, and off we go!

I hope you're having a great evening and it's great to welcome you as a fellow host of the challenge 🙂

All the best, Mixer

Yeah I'd love to do the next one- is it daily or weekly? I'm enjoying being part of the group it's helping me and feels great. Yeah sure feel free to discuss here.

Might catch you on chat

Athena

Brilliant!

What I'm thinking, Athena, is a rollcall every few days, when we're ready. What we do is copy the last rollcall and paste it into a new post (the blue hyperlinks should still be there) and then insert names in between and add hyperlinks. We can go through it tomorrow. It shouldn't take long, once we get in the swing of it, and I'm always here to help at any time - we always look out for each other, right!

Anyway enjoy your evening and here's to another blissful GF day tomorrow 🙂

Good night, Mixer

Very happy to be on day 8 being gf! Whilst it might not seem a lot I am overwhelmed with how I've managed to be so strong and get myself out of such a s**t spot! For the last few months I have been gambling for several hours each day (bar the last 8 days of course) and felt like there was no way out! I am no so much happier to be free from the pain of gambling, and whilst there is a lot of hard work and testing times to come! I know that I will remain gf for the rest of my life - as it really does nothing for me and brings me no joy and no happiness! I don't miss it not even a little bit and being able to write this is incredibly empowering! Today is going to be another gf day because my life is better that way.... oooo I quite like that quote! Might be one that I continue to use 🙂

Have a happy and gf day people

Athena

That was a superb post, Athena, and I really like your quote: "Today is going to another GF day, because my life is better that way.". That can be our quote of the day on the Challenge, whaddaya say 🙂 !

Hi Athena , thank you for welcoming me to the Guru Challenge .

Wishing you well in your recovery , I love your positive upbeat approach . Take care stephen .

Thanks mixer 🙂 yeah definitely I love the quote just kinda typed it and thought - that's quite good!

Your welcome Stephen - it's great to have you post here and on mixers guru challenge!

By way of update tomorrow is payday - an Day where for the last several months I have spend hundreds of pounds in a day!! However, I am not concerned as I have planned out exactly where my money is going (mostly bills and paying off debts) and the remainder goes to my partner to give me an allowance each week! Previously I would be worried about relapsing on payday but not this time, there's no way I'm going to as I'm already feeling the benefits of a gf life! I'm never going back and now I can pay off my debts by the new year!

I'm looking forward to the bank holiday to spend time with family knowing I'm not in financial stress!

Have a good gf day everybody

Athena

Fantastic that you've planned for payday tomorrow Athena - really, REALLY good thinking putting words into actions. What a great BH you can have knowing that you've put positive steps in place that will really help your GF lifetime journey. Always step-by-step, day-by-day, but, hey, we wouldn't have it any other way 🙂

Im glad to report that today is another GF day and will be day 10 when over!!!!! wooooohoooo we are now in double figures!

Whilst it was a bit unnerving for a while having all of my salary available, i made the payments i needed to and sent the rest to my partner. My natural instinct was to keep hold of the money as this is what I used to do when i gambled so i had money to bet with if i needed it! instead i treated myself to a cheap dress and top and put the rest where it belongs!

A great start to a day which normally ends up in axiety and upset!

Heres to many more gf days to come - wishing everyone a lovely bank holiday weekend.

Athena

That is music to my ears, music to all our ears, Athena - let's get today GF and what a great way to set up the weekend. You've planned this, and proper planning reaps the rewards you deserve. 🙂

Well done Athena. Getting through payday is not easy.