Just fabulous ?
That was excellent Adam. Thank you for those words of wisdom.
Interesting post also by Mixer who wrote that he carries no more than £20 in cash and uses a cut in half debit card to pay for things he needs by paying on-line.
What has made a big difference to me is that I now pay for everything I can with my debit card (contactless payments) and carry only £10 - £20 cash in my wallet. It does seem to have made a big difference because I am not getting gambling thoughts in my head like I used to.
Note. I never gambled on line. It was always in betting shops.
Stephen x
Hello people (team) I stayed in instead of going to pub today with the aim of not being within the area of a fruit machine....i have succeeded at not gambling again today....horray
*** Afternoon Update ***
Good afternoon all! I hope you're enjoying the weekend, and have chosen the right decision today. Today, we're four-square behind Stephen, and tomorrow I propose Murlo; we are adding our strength in spirit for you! (And also your hubby as we will him on to win a game of Scrabble against you. You're 7-0 up, right, Murlo! C'mon, Mr Murlo - get one back 🙂 )
***
Adam - really enjoyed your poem especially the line:
"In my opinion the 100 days is not the goal it's about learning a healthy habit."
Exactly right. 100 days is the springboard from which we deep dive full-steam ahead into that meaningful life. We often can't see the benefits of a g*****-free life early on. But I personally believe at 100 days the pendulum swings and we can look back to see how we were, and how we now are.
Stephen - thank you for your thoughts and interesting to learn that our practical steps in this regard converge. As I wrote previously, we all need to find a balance but I believe, as you do, there is one. Yes - it's not a perfect system but we can continue to perfect it.
***
How are we doing? Hopefully well! Here are our personal targets. Just one day at a time, everyone, that's as far ahead as we need to think. Tidying up for today and preparing for tomorrow.
Changing habit 28th Jan 2020
Danpo 7th Mar 2020
Murlo 11th Feb 2020
Determined to Stop 1st March 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!
***
A bit bored? Indulge in music! Get Spotify, for free, and listen to their chilled out daily playlists or whatever takes your fancy. They'll be something for you, maybe something new, or something you haven't heard for a while. And/Or why not join us for Group Chat here on Gamcare from 8-9pm. It's lively, its positive and you're guaranteed a warm welcome. It's here --> https://www.gamcare.org.uk/get-support/group-chatroom/
Enjoy Gavin and Stacey? Why not watch the series with the actors that started it all - called Nighty Night, you can watch the box sets on the BBC. Fantastic series (two of them) with a dark humour that appealed to me anyway.
Have a great evening everyone!
Mixer
A quick P.S.
If you're struggling, or have relapsed, never forget we're a team ... and we're right behind you to pick you up and get you back onto that g******-free horse!
We'll be a little sad, of course. That's natural. But our spirits will perk up again when you try again with that extra determined look in your eyes with those practical steps re-visited and improved.
We have got to want to do this - because we've seen what the 'other side' looks like. We want to life live, the rollercoaster it is, good and bad, with the best foundation possible. That's one without g*******.
Mixer
Evening Mixer, scrabble update. It is now 8-4. Lost a bit of form today ?
It's shaping up to be a helluva contest Murlo - who'll be the first to 100!
***
By the way, in an earlier e-mail I touched on the box series Nighty Night. Having just revisited it myself, it's a lot darker than I remember it and so - genuinely - won't be for everybody. Just so's you know.
Well done all. Thank you Mr mixer for keeping us all stirred up and firing on all fours
?
Great Sunday update Mixer and I enjoyed the contributions from other members of the 100 Day Club.
My best wishes go to all our gamcare brothers and sisters on this journey to rediscover our lives.
Stephen x
Boo - thank you. If another day not g***ing is the result, then it's all worth it!
Stephen - thank you, and love the comment about being brothers and sisters; we are all one big extended family here, but a family none the less! And like all families, there are characters (I would say we are ALL characters actually) and we all non-judgementally support each other through thick and thin.
***
Monday tomorrow, but not yet. Let's enjoy the rest of today. Tomorrow's going to be a better day than it would have been, because we are preparing to make the correct decision. So we're already starting next week on a positive note - just by thinking about it.
We're keeping it real - we're keeping it manageable - we're keeping it one day at a time!
And whilst, in these early stages, we have to be 'on the ball' probably everyday, feelings will start to subside in time, once we cement why we've been doing this and why we're stopping in our brains.
We're brain training - (re)enforcing the message ... have you noticed? 🙂
Mixer
Well done Murlo 8 - 4. Adam you are doing great maybe do as Stephen and Mixer does and don't take as much out with you or just take what you need and a couple of pounds more. We can help each other with the right balance and right planning. We can do this one day at a time.
I love this thread. Only 8 days and I will be halfway to the 100 club. Hoping my scrabble score will not be too far behind...
I've made it to the end of the day horray, lets roll into another gamble free week.
We all have the will power to do this. Last binge 29/11/19 and his needs to be my last ever one, I dont think I or my partner could mentally, physically take it anymore.
This time round has really got to my head it wasnt as financially traumatic but it's really took it out on me.
I am so determined this time to not ever do it again, I know I can find the strength within, we can all find the strength within.
I think we are all very greatful of mixer creating this thread as it gives us all that drive to carry on and who knows where its gunna go after the 100 day challenge, 200, 300 well we will have to see.
Stick to it people we are all strong enough and do have a life withought gambling.
Love to all.
*** Morning! ***
Good morning! And just because it's a Monday, who says that we don't have to look forward to this day, and week, positively? So long as we stuck to one simple promise.
Just for today, I choose not to g*****. I choose not to think about it. If I see or hear something related, I will turn my head. I will simply not even think about it; just for today, Monday 16th December 2019.
Let's bear in mind a couple of things this morning.
Words are easy - "I won't do this again", "I'm so determined not to do this again". This isn't enough. Practical steps, in most cases, need to bolster this up. It might be handing over financial control, counselling, sharing and learning on Gamcare. Whatever it might be, words need to be backed up with action. Remember - we know ourselves too well.
This matters - It really does. Let's all make one extra special effort to tame this beast. Just imagine entering 2020 unflinching. That's a distant aspiration, of course. We work here one day at a time.
Christmas doesn't mean you get a 'free pass'. Very easy to have too many sherbets after the Christmas meal and go on a binge. "It's Christmas". It's no excuse. Christmas could well be trigger so never forget to put those defences in play.
We're doing good, team. Let's stick with it. We will have a far better day today than one with the 'hangover' of the ball-and-chain that is g******.
***
Changing Habit - You're right; if nothing changes, nothing changes. Our willpower isn't enough in most cases. Day to day, we can manage this.
Adam - keep telling us your 'near misses'. I am lapping them up. Because a near miss is a miss and you should be proud of keeping on track. Keep reporting them - we're proud of you here.
Murlo - I am looking forward to the today when your Gambling Free count exceeds your highest triple-word 7-letter Scrabble score. There's a target for you - one day at a time 🙂
Danpo - Things look brighter as soon as we stop. Delighted that the Gamcare resources are helping you help yourself. And we're all here, of course, to keep you on the straight and narrow. A line in the sand has been drawn - seriously, no more. Going good!
I'm on Day 13 myself, but so, so, determined. I've tightened up my weaknesses with practical steps. Always, always, reviewing the gaps.
Here's something I wrote a while back, it may help you if you haven't read it (it's the first post in the thread, a long one, but sums up as much as I've worked out so far about this insidious addiction):
--> https://www.gamcare.org.uk/forum/new-members-intros-forum/want-to-do-something-read-this-130738/
Have a great day everyone,
Mixer
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