*** Good evening! ***
Well, here I am fresh from a very boozy Christmas meal. My liver is undoubtedly hoisting the white flag. Not proud of that, but it was an enjoyable night.
Most importantly, I didn't g*****.
Naturally, I've dived into here and have enjoyed immensely the gratitude lists. So here's mine!
1. I have a lovely wife and son.
2. I have a relatively secure job.
3. I am fortunate to have an ability to hold a pen (none of my posts take more than 10mins to write, ever).
4. I am relatively healthy - serious health issue aside.
5. I have a close circle of friends.
6. I have a faith.
7. I am not colour blind - I love colours.
8. I am debt free - despite despicable g******.
9. I have met some wonderful people here on Gamcare.
10. I'm alive and able to make a difference.
.Mixer
hope you had a fab night Mixer x
And my grateful list is:
1. Being gamble free.
2. My wonderful husband, he is my reason for being.
3 The unconditional love from my pets.
4.The fact that I am able to make choices about most things in my life, a lot of people are not.
5. The beauty of our planet, it's people and species.
6. Having heat, light, water and food. So many do not.
7. Having a job that genuinely feels like a vocation. Being a nurse is just the best.
8.The surgeons who gave me a chance of two functioning legs.
9.My beautiful friend M, you saved my life.
10. To all at gamcare and on this forum, you have kept me going through my darkest moments.
Goodnight all x
Gratitude list for me is as follows.....
1. The freedom to not g*****
2. The unconditional love to and from my daughter, she really is the best.
3. The immense hep and support from my partner. She has stuck by me through a lot, which I am very very grateful for.
4. The physical healthiness I have
5. The ability to walk and talk
6. Food, warmth and roof over my head
7. The fact that ga meetings exist
8.the ability to be able to work to provide for my loved ones.
9. The never ending love and faithfulness from my partner. She really is one of a kind.
10.the ability to make choices.
11. This one might sound wrong but I'm also grateful for the prescription drugs I have to keep the chemical balance correct in my brain to help control my depression and anxiety.
This is the first time I've ever wrote a gratitude list, also the last 3 weeks has played the biggest part in my life with me opening up about being a cumpolsive g******. I have known there's always been a problem but was always in denial. This has been a big pressure on my life the past 7 years as I've acted in some very strange ways. All I can say now is that I need to become the person I thrive to be, the person that i know is inside, we all know there's 2 sides to us - The g******/ The person......
Onwards and upwards.
Thanks everyone for helping me get through my days so far it's a real big help this forum and I am do grateful for it.
Danpo, you are heading for a magical g****** free Christmas with you family. You have chosen to do that and should allow yourself just one moment to be proud of yourself x
Thanks murlo, I'm determined to never place that 1st bet again because if we am honest we cant and never will be able to control it after that 1st bet. It's the fact that we shall not place that 1st bet.
Goodnight my freind illcbe back for me action tomorrow.
** Good afternoon ***
We welcome a newcomer to our ranks! A warm welcome to Fir tree, who has advised a target date of 28th Mar 2020. To confirm your intent, Fir tree, all we ask is that, just for today, you choose not to g*****. We will all make the same promise - and it's just for today! We look forward to getting to know you better, Fir tree, so do feel free to write a post and let us know how we can help.
There have been some amazing gratitude lists (some really heartfelt stuff here Murlo, Danpo 🙂 ) which all have an underlying theme ... our joy of being alive and freedom to make our own choices. We are grateful that we have a roof over our heads, supportive networks and the underlying love we have for others and that others have for us.
All priceless things.
I appreciate, of course, that some of us might not be in a brilliant position right now, for one reason or another. Being recently bruised by this awful addiction is not always easy to handle, but we can get a grip of it. We may be grieving, or life giving us knocks. We may not have a supportive network but, remember, you have one here. And doors will open as our recovery continues to blossom, one day at a time.
We have good underlying foundations that have rusted thanks to the erosive power of g******. We'll keep polishing that structure so it shines and is strong as steel.
Let's add some more polish today as, for one day only, just for today, we refrain from you-know-what. We have a choice. We want life, not misery.
As I type the sun's just come out. Lovely!
Have a great day everyone.
Mixer
***
How are we doing with our personal targets? Let's see...
Fir tree . 28th Mar 2020
Stephen 10th Feb 2020
Adam123 31st Dec 2019
Franco1875 19th Mar 2020
Spendlikewater84 23rd Dec 2019
Ineffable 21st Feb 2020
EsoxLucius 28th Feb 2020
Mixer 13th March 2020
Boo 17th Jan 2020
Fighter1 Hon. Member ? <-- our target is to reach and stay there!
Changing habit 28th Jan 2020
Danpo 7th Mar 2020
Murlo 11th Feb 2020
Determined to Stop 1st March 2020
***
P.S. This can be a difficult time of year for many reasons. Remember, if you are feeling a bit 'wobbly' then why not post here and tell us about it. All we ask in return is that you pledge to not g***** today. Just that one, small thing, You will get a reply, probably quite quickly!
Or, why not phone or text Gamcare or join the Group Chats. Keeping busy like this will help you immensely.
Let's keep strong, just for today. Despite everything that might be thrown at you - don't boil over, don't crack, just for today.
Mixer
Another start to a successful weekend, no gambling so far, just got to be strong at the pub tomo!
*** Good evening! ***
Adam - I'm with you all the way on that one, my friend - all we've got to do is prepare for tomorrow to make the commitment that matters! We're living the life.
***
Here we are, on the run-up to Christmas, keeping focussed and living life as it should be lived. If you're feeling wobbly tonight just hold off till tomorrow. Tomorrow, we'll revisit afresh!
Take care.
Mixer
good evening.
just completed a year off,but before that four terrible replapses spread over three years.Longest time without a bet is two years 6 months.....48 years old and a heavy gambler for 30 years.The end of £100 fobt spins,gamstop and beginning the 1 step recovery programme,giving up alcohol since august also has made the difference for me.....i have learned the more you invest in your recovery the more successful it can be.
Today has been good celebrating my 50 day gamble free adventure.
Half of my 100 day challenge completed which has been helped by the support of gamcare friends.
I am also grateful for the guidance that I receive from my higher power and earlier I said a big thank you as I listened to "Walking With The Angels" by Doro.
Stephen x
Saintby71 - Firstly, it is great to hear about your milestone brought about by your thought-out investment into your better future. Like anything worth having, the more we put into it, the more we get out. Thank you for your incisive thoughts and always welcome more.
Stephen - We all share our collective delight in your reaching this meaningful milestone. Similar to Saintby you're investing in this - body, heart and soul. Our true vibrant selves are breaking though the shells that have been constraining us. It's great to hear about your faith - when there is a higher power on your shoulder what a wonderful feeling it is. P.S. I'll listen to that song shortly!
***
We are all quietly, diligently putting plans in place to secure a life as it should be lived. Even if we don't quite realise it at times!
One day at a time we are not only refraining but building up resolve and acting on building up practical and emotional defences.
We're opening up the curtains, peering through and embracing what we see. It's different to what we've been used to, but truly fulfilling this time.
All of this one blessed day at a time.
Let's have a peaceful Sunday everyone, and quietly, determinedly and proudly choose to take the right path - just for today.
*,**
I've joined a couple of new initiatives over the last week or so - one with Gamcare and one outside. I'll let you know how I get on.
There is plenty of help and guidance out there - Dunpo, great to hear about your positive GA experiences.
There are genuine friendships forming and forged in the forums and Group Chat.
This is all so worth it.
Take care,
Mixer
ive managed another day in pubs without a gamble horray, I only thought about going on a machine once and it was only a fleeting thought, much fun had a friends seen for Christmas brilliant time had by all.
Nice one, Adam - that's great to hear. Likewise, another GF day ticked off.
We all march on - one day at a time 🙂
***
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