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.
Well done adam, day by day we can all climb the mountain and never stop climbing.
Well done Danpo on 25 days that is brilliant and keep going.
Well done Murlo on 50 days halfway there.
Stephen you have a great Monday as well.
Mixer you just keep being you.
All the best everyone. ?
Congratulations spenditlike water for the 100 day gf
Congratulations murlo for the 50 day gf
The best thing what I'm feeling atm is the love from my family and the honesty, love and time I'm giving back. Its horrendous to think home much time and valuable moments I have lost through g******* but i now know what's right and need to think day to day what's the best things in my life which are my family and freinds of gamcare forum. Its mad to think how much better people we are once we rid the soul of the demon, from how we treat people to how we treat ourselves.
I feel such a better person when I'm not In the grasps of that horrid illness and I know you all feel the same way, from the controlling behaviour, the lies, the moodiness and just the being of a general t**t.
From the day I stopped that's the day the honesty, loyalness, kindness, thinking of others and being that caring person we know we are.
Right people I've rambled on for a while now, hope you all have the day you desire and deserve.
Peace and love fellow freinds of the gf community.
???
*** Good afternoon! ***
Isn't it fantastic, everyone, that at this busy, and often stressful time, we're approaching it with an 'extra layer' of confidence. That's because individually, and together, we're deciding to go g*****-free, just for today.
And what a day it is - and it hasn't gone unnoticed amongst us! Spenditlikewater84, please step forward - you've reached an impressive milestone - 100 days! That makes you an Hon. member of our '100 day' club. As an extra special treat, we offer you a lifetime membership of our club. Always one valuable day at a time, of course.
So, Congratulations, Spenditlikewater84! This is what it's all about! This is what real life's about. Real life's different to what we've been doing in the past - it's more fulfilling and rewarding.
***
Danpo - Absolutely loving your posts. You're keeping focussed and, most importantly, keeping it real. Going gambling-free can be euphoric - and why not; it's the very best thing we could do - but you're rightly tempering that with balanced, positive thinking and actions. In other words, you're preparing to last the course, one day at a time. Good man!
Stephen - It was fantastic to see your half century yesterday, it has been hard-earned but by goodness you got there. Your diary is always a must-read and the contacts you've made, the friendships you've cultivated say a great deal about your integrity. We all look forward to walking alongside you, day after valuable day as we live our lives in the better way we have chosen. I hope you're having a lively time with your sister and brood; your other 'family' alongside your one here on Gamcare!
Changing habit - your encouragement to others is great and motivates us all!
Murlo - had a little laugh with your 'blonde moment' (wishing me well for my counselling). Although, incidentally, you weren't far out - I joined a Skype Problem Gambling group last night for an hour; something I'd never tried before. It's an anonymous group so I have to adhere to confidentiality, but suffice to say it was an opportunity to share our experiences in a safe, controlled way. A bit like Group Chat but with video links. There are plenty of groups like this and I will explore this idea with our group in future posts.
Murlo - we wish you a very happy Christmas; you're omnipresent on these forums and your positivity and support is wonderful!
***
Here's how we're doing, with our own individual targets, in no particular order:
Fir tree . 28th Mar 2020
Stephen 10th Feb 2020
Adam123 31st Dec 2019
Franco1875 19th Mar 2020
Spendlikewater84 Hon. Member <--- Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssssss! 🙂
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
***
If you're finding it difficult at the moment, do contact Gamcare, speak to someone you can trust, write a post here - just hold off any g*******, just for today. That's all we ask.
We all realise we're fighting our own battles here and need to be watchful.
This is our vow, for one day only: "Today, whatever happens, I choose not to g******. For today only."
We all understand that there are pressures this time of year. (In-laws for one 🙂 - just joking!). But these little things can add up. We need to be strong and not react as we might have done in the past - but we're all with you here Ok. We're a team!
Enjoy this Christmas Eve (Eve), everyone.
Mixer
Quick update; I discovered tonight, during Group Chat, that Murlo has reached 50 days g****** -free today! Half way is a good way! So our warmest congratulations to you Murlo - going great guns!
Let's keep going, one valuable and blessed one day at a time. Let's look forward. If we have to look back, take a moment to glance, but never stare.
Onwards!
Mixer
Thank you Mixer (think I have the right person this time!).
Very interested in the Skype group
Hi all, just caught up with the thread.
hope we are all going to have a GF xmas
Hey everyone.
If theres room, I would love to join your club!
Im at day 23 now. The longest I’ve ever done.
Ive noticed two things, the calmness firstly, but also the taking of stock of where you are, the debt, repayments and long way you have to go.
But also, I am now facing up to it, rather than be scared to accept the amount of debt im in, I have a plan now. And I’ll get there, as we all will.
Have a great Xmas
x
Hey everyone.
If theres room, I would love to join your club!
Im at day 23 now. The longest I’ve ever done.
Ive noticed two things, the calmness firstly, but also the taking of stock of where you are, the debt, repayments and long way you have to go.
But also, I am now facing up to it, rather than be scared to accept the amount of debt im in, I have a plan now. And I’ll get there, as we all will.
Have a great Xmas
x
Oh, and I make my 100 days 10th March (to save you working it out ?)
x
All aboard the polar express bertie boo...
From one boo to another
Happy Christmas.. Boo radley
???????
Hello all and a hig welcome to bertieboo.
Merry xmas eve to you all and what a fabulous gf one it will be.
I woke up so excited today as I'm going to be stopping at what I call home with my partner and children, I'm honestly like a big kid at xmas. I'll be the first one up tomorrow and that's a fact lol.
Let's all take a.moment to appreciate he things we have in life and not think about the things we dont.
" when you love what you have, you have everything you need".
I've got 1 or 2 jobs to do for amazon today then the rest of my time will be taken up by collecting presents from family members, giving the home a good spruce up then picking my partner up from work to finally getting back and settling down for the night.
I wish you all the very best of xmas's and have the trust in you all that you will do the right thing. I'll check back tonight or in the morning just for a quick read and update.
Today, just for today I shall not gamble.
Peace and love guys, stay strong and true to yourselves.
*** Good morning! ***
Great to have you aboard bertieboo! Good to see you on 23 days and let's see you, one day at a time, reach your target!
Murlo - I've asked Gamcare admin to send you my e-mail address so you can contact me about the Skype group if you wish.
Fighter1 - thank you for your best wishes - let's make sure we all keep Chrimbo g****ing-free.
Boo - 2 Boo or not 2 Boo? That is the question 🙂
Danpo - you're right - "when you love what you have, you have everything you need". As that quote infers, of course money is important, but to 'oils the wheels'. It's us that drives the car and chooses the direction and destination. You're keepin' it steady!
***
Time
When I phoned up a g****** helpline way back after a particularly heartbreaking relapse, I was told that it's not about the money, it's about the time.
I thought - really? It didn't take me that long to lose the money. G***** sessions are notoriously short in duration yet ruinous at the same time - easy to blow a month's salary in a few hours.
I didn't quite understand what the helpline chap meant. I thought it was just the time spent gambling (although that's obviously part of it).
It's actually about the time spent feeling guilty.
The time we're going through self-pity and self-loathing.
The time that we neglect our friends and loved ones, as we become morose, moody, boorish, snappy and unreasonable. (How many of those unpleasant attributes can you 'tick off' - I certainly have.)
The time we waste because we lose focus and drive - especially at work. We waste more valuable and fulfilling time that a better career, or progression, would give us.
And also the time we lose because that's what money can buy us. When we buy goods and services, we're buying, along with the materials etc. the time spent by others making or providing them.
Add all that time up and it's very clear precisely how damaging g****** is.
And that's just the time we're losing - never mind the impact of losing the money!
Just for today, let's use our time wisely. We can do that if, just for today, we choose not to g******.
***
Here's the latest! Let's keep going everyone - just for today!
bertieboo 10th Mar 2020
Fir tree . 28th Mar 2020
Stephen 10th Feb 2020
Adam123 31st Dec 2019
Franco1875 19th Mar 2020
Spendlikewater84 Hon. Member <--- Yeeeeeeeeessssssssssssss! ?
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
***
Enjoy Christmas Eve everyone; let's keep cool and relaxed ... we don't have to get unduly stressed - really.
If something goes wrong - say the dog eats the turkey or someone forgot the stuffing or whatever - we'll be Ok.
Let's all roll with it! One day at a time... 🙂
Mixer.
Thanks boo! And thanks everyone for making me feel so welcome. I’m honoured to be part of your club ?
Bang on with this one mixer time, its one of the most valuable things on the planet and that's a fact. I've looked back and realised you could be sitting there with your loved ones on your phone spinning away withought them knowing of course and it's basically like your not their, well intact you might as well not be.
The time we waited on this horrific illness we are never going to get back but the time we can invest in to more proactive future is down to us and that's the best feeling ever, we have a choice people.
I know what my choice is going to be and I know that all of us here are here for the same reasons.
As always mixer great motivational speech.
Peace and love people.
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