Hi everyone. Busy time at work but happy to say 8 days free!!!!
Took the family out for a meal using the money I would have spent elsewhere!!! A much better way to spend money and time!!!
Hope everyone is doing ok and thanks for being here for me!!!
LMG
*** Good afternoon! ***
When we go g**bling free, we pay more attention to the world around us. Also, the people around us.
Instead of looking at things or people at face value, we are actually there - in the present - genuinely sincere, interested, listening and learning; part of that relationship.
G**bling takes us away from these things.
But without this toxic impediment to our lives, this important aspect of our behaviour is returning, one day at a time.
In time, it will be so natural, we'll recall how we used to be, shudder, and embrace the fact we did something about it!
Our decision to choose to recover wasn't about the money (although it's a massive consequence of our actions). It's about getting ourselves back to where we want to be. With help and positive actions we are doing just that.
***
And here's how we're doing - which is ... great!
Russ (Mark) - 2nd Feb 2020
Stephen - 10th Feb 2020
Adam123 - Reached target ? new target --> 5th March.
Franco1875 - 19th Mar 2020
Spendlikewater84 - Hon. Member!
Ineffable - 21st Feb 2020
EsoxLucius - 28th Feb 2020
Mixer - 13th March 2020
LewisMG - 12th April 2020
Spendspendspend - Hon. member! ?
Boo - 20th Jan 2020
Fighter1 - Hon. Member ! ?
Bertieboo - 10th Mar 2020
Fir tree - 28th Mar 2020
Changing habit - 28th Jan 2020
Danpo 7th Mar 2020
Murlo 11th Feb 2020
Determined to Stop 1st March 2020
***
Adam - Great post! Like branches of a tree, have you noticed you're increasingly doing more and more, filling up your time with worthwhile things. Your network is increasing, and that bodes well for your social life and perhaps more besides. You are embracing time and, as you go along, that time will look after you.
Ineffable - yep, we're fast moving on this thread! A really good 'gang' here all supportive of each other ... good karma that really makes a difference all round! I'm looking forward to seeing that film, btw. Saw 'Darkest Hour' a year back, very good and shows how close it all was politically in 1940. (Only slight downside with the movie was an odd dreamlike sequence on the Underground but that's a minor quibble!). Thank you for your, as always, friendly and interesting post!
Lewis - good to hear; we like good news here. And if there's bad news, well, we are still keen to hear it because we're a team and we help each other when the chips are down. But, glad to see, your chips are frying nicely (assuming you had some with your family meal!)
It might be mid-winter but in our g**bling free hearts it's Spring!
Danpo - If I ever refer to you as 'Dunpo' again you have every right to call me Muxer! 🙂
***
Let's keep going; heres a suggested vow for tomorrow.
"Just for today, I'm choosing not to g***le. I'm not going to entertain the notion. Not interested. Just for today!"
***
Final thought
"Always aim to be the person your dog (or cat, or other pet) thinks you are".
One to ponder over!
Mixer
Hi peeps, when u said mixing with more people and widening circles my instant thought was great lets do something today, and in first instance I thought watch city game at pub with a mate, just got to make sure its one who doesn't gamble.
Great update by Mixer but I have struggled with your "Thought of the day," which advised me to "always aim to be the person your dog, cat or other pet thinks you are."
This was a real tricky one for me and I found myself in quite a dilemma because I don't have any pets, not even a budgie or a goldfish with which to help me understand your words of wisdom.
Suddenly, out of the cloudy sky came a pigeon who gracefully landed on my 12th floor balcony and gave me a nod and a wink.
Now it all makes even less sense because my flying feral friend is under the illusion that I cannot fly.
What my feral flying friend does not realise is that 72 days ago I did indeed learn to fly and what is more I grew some magical gamble-free wings.
Stephen x
Hello everyone, how nice it is to just log in and check everyone's posts onto his thread. We are all here and pushing each other along, the bright and enthusiastic posts from everyone really helps.
Mixer you always have a lot to say but it's great to hear it, I don't mind the dunpo part lol, kind of made me giggle when you said I have the right to call you muxer if called dunpo again?
Today was great, woke up at half 6. As always 1st one up in the house, watched a an old film on Netflix, well 2001 was the release, its kind of old to me as I'm only 30 ?? it's got vinnie Jones and a few other old English actors ( Mean machine) in my opinion they dont make the English gangster films like they did then. Danny Dier and Tammer Hassan are the stars of most the films I enjoyed growing up regarding English ones anyway.
So after the movie i woke my daughter and partner up, )left the 2 teen boys to rot in bed as they do ?) and took them to the leisure centre where they have a decent pool and some slides, Rapids and wave machine. Overall had a Brill day with the pair of them.
I'm really in a happy place right now and my feelings towards G*****ng are very negative I despise it, not going to be gullible and think my thoughts might not change because who knows. All I know is I'm on top of the world right now, my depression and anxiety has lifted, still get the anxiety from time to time but I can overcome it.
The support from my partner has been immense, she's really one of a kind.
Right enough waffling here goes........
Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get dound out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count; I will do at least two things I dont want to do - just for exercise; i will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt - they may be hurt but today I will not show it. Most of all Just for today I will not gamble ?.
Sending strength and love to all my fellow 100 day club followers.
Have a blessed day folks.
Just read thru my diaries, not all of them (I have about sixteen) but snippets of a few of them. Now when I started there was no gamstop which as I was an online poker player was a major problem. Thru 2015, 2016 and 2017 I was kicking myself for being so bad at giving it up and not taking the advice.
Then the eureka moment happened January 2018 where I was on performance management they called it at work. I started to get voices at work and was signed off work for six weeks. Now looking back I think the stress of gambling and being sent emails everyday saying what I was doing wrong sent me over the edge stress wise.
So at that point I got a less stressful role in the hospital and stopped drinking and gambling and I realised to true benefits of not doing both.
Im not sure how much I've spent since Jan 2018 but I've been in recovery and mistakes happen we are human.
I am thankful I'm not drinking or smoking or doing drugs or gambling as all contribute towards ur health in a poor way. I'm thankfully to be alive and thankful that I've come out that period of my life .
*** Good evening! ***
Mark (Russ789) - thank you once again for your kind comments. I have to say I've found the Skype group very useful too, thank you for inviting me, really made me think tonight.
(To our group members, if you're interested in this, you're welcome to contact Mark via his diary here --> https://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/recovery-diaries/you-have-to-give-it-away-to-keep-it/ )
Stephen - Likewise, my friend. Hey, I really enjoyed your fascination tale about the pigeon. I'm just glad it didn't leave a certain, um, 'message' on your window that might have tempered your view somewhat!!!
However - you're right - we have grown non-g**bling wings and can fly now and start to swoop, gliding alongside the thermals, making sense of the big picture that the grey clouds of g**bling have been hiding for so long.
The wingspan of your particular non-g**bling 'golden eagle', Stephen (no disrespect to our humble pigeon but let's go up the bird chain a little more) is 71cm increasing by 1cm every day - just one day at a time. It's getting stronger, and flying further, every day, this golden eagle of life! Let's make this a majestic beast of the sky!
Danpo - (got it right this time 😉 ) you've had a fantastic weekend and it's been great reading all about it. Some real quality family time, wow, this is what it's all about, eh! I applaud your negative feelings about g**bling because it wants to hurt us. There's no other way of putting it. If it hurts us, it hurts those around us. This is unacceptable to us, and so a contempt towards it is quite right. And I hope you don't mind if I borrow your excellent 'Just for today' for tomorrow!
Adam - thank you for your posts. It doesn't hurt to look back now and then, providing we don't unnecessarily dwell and we get value out of doing so. It does make us cringe how we were, but it also shows us how far forwards we've come. You should embrace that, Adam.
Yes, you've fallen over from time to time but you've gotten up a bit taller each time thereafter. We are human. (Our paths are very similar.) The point is, you're stronger, you recognise the wonder and awe of life and it's something you're choosing to live, rather than the alternative misery.
One day at a time, Adam, and you're doing great mate. Early days, but this time seems a little different somehow. I'm with you shoulder to shoulder.
***
Over to Danpo for this one.. here's a suggested vow for tomorrow. Monday might be the start of the week but it's the start of a g**bling free day; this is different and we have a 'ticket for life' as it should be lived - that's priceless. We're starting the week on a positive!
"Just for today I will exercise my soul in three ways: I will do somebody a good turn, and not get dound out; if anybody knows of it, it will not count; I will do at least two things I dont want to do - just for exercise; i will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt - they may be hurt but today I will not show it. Most of all Just for today I will not gamble ?."
***
Let's have a great Monday, everyone.
Mixer
Just for today I won't gamble, taking it one day at a time is simple but very very effective.
Great update Mixer. Very inspiring.
Monday morning looking good. I live in Hull and it is a very pleasant day. A bit windy but refreshing and invigorating.
Wishing all members of the 100 Day Club a super duper week.
Life on planet earth is probably a one off adventure akin to a gap year enjoyed by many young people.
Let us return from whence we came with a smile and no regrets.
Gamcare Brothers & Sisters
Look to the heavens with hope, gratitude and a smile
It's time to Rock n Roll
Stephen x
* Good evening! *
Just a quick update today as I’m out and about and won’t have time to construct a longer post.
I hope you’re Ok and having a good Monday. I did read somewhere that next Monday (the 3rd of the month) is meant to be the most miserable day of the year, but I’m having none of that.
It’s got to be an attitude of mind surely. Sure, we’re skint and it’s cold but the way I look at it is this - we can be warm, and rich in other ways. It’s a week away but if I’m g***ing free on that date, continuing on from today, I’ll be bloody celebrating.
You’re welcome to join me next Monday as we make it a day to celebrate. What do you think, sounds good? 🙂
***
Adam - yep, one day a time is manageable. All anxiety and moments of weakness pass! We can prepare for that.
Stephen - a wonderful post as always. I had a great weekend in Hull once; I forgot my passport so couldn’t go on the ferry (mimi-cruise) to Holland! But I booked a hotel in Hull instead and had a really nice time.
And as you day, by the grace of God, or however we choose to see it, we have our ‘golden ticket’ of life and we need to use it as best we can, from today and beyond. It takes wisdom to truly recognise this s, and we are getting wise, no question!
***
Lets have an enjoyable evening all. And for tomorrow, let’s prepare!
”Just for today, I choose not to g***le. I will let any angst simply wash over me. Once it does, I will feel the sun on my back and I will carry on!”
Mixer
First time I have logged on in a white. Shocked to say I am 416 days gambling free and feeling so much happier.
It's hard but you can all beat it ?
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