"The Bright Side of the Road"

Day 1, Month 1:

MINI GOALS:

Mini Goals helped me to remain gamble free for almost two and a half years so I feel it's important to yet again, set myself some new ones for the next month, up to 29th Jan - one month after I returned to this site. Here goes:

1. To remain gamble free.
2. To pay all my monthly bills.
3. To read some diaries.
4. To remember, it takes 21 days to kick a habit! - 19.01.16.

That will do for now I think.

Take care all and sleep peacefully.

Feb - on "The Bright side of the Road".

Hi Feb,

Welcome back to diaries:)), but you never left the forum,lol,you have been giving support all along the way:))

Your honest post shows how much you want to keep on the bright side of the road.:))

It does not matter how many days, weeks, years we have done, we are all only one bet away,

Sending you positive and determined thoughts today my friend.

Suzanne xxx

Thanks Suzanne for your reply. Nice to hear back from a familiar post. Hope things are going well for you. Take care.

Feb.

Day 1.

Feeling the damage from yesterday, which is what tends to happen to most of us I think, when we remove ourselves from the "gambling ride". Although not too catestrophic, it was definitely money I could have used on myself and, which will now leave me on an extremely tight budget until payday on 20th Jan! Anyway, on a positive, it has been my reason for coming back here. I have set my mini goals for the month - not too many but important enough ones to help me to remain gamble free once again.

In the last two and a half years, I had managed to get myself "back on track" so to speak. It was hard work but with determination and "Will Power"! - my good old friend, I dug myself out of a huge hole. Although I haven't fallen back in, lets just say, I have scraped my knees and today they are sore and now need time to heal and recover. Taking one day at a time, will get me through until next payday and then I will take it from there and continue to set more mini goals.

Take care all and sleep peacefully at night.

Feb - on "The Bright side of the Road" - weather permitting!!

Hi bright, sorry to hear of your return to gambling, I too gambled after my 1st real attemp at stopping after 30 days, I wish I could have some of your positivity as at the moment I feel there is no hope and I'm starting the year in a very bad place which isn't a great feeling.

Thanks Steve. Continuing to gamble will always ultimately end up in us going back to that "dark place". A place where we don't feel good at all. Only when we stop, do we allow some light and even some sunshine back into our life. We both know which is the better of the two, which is why I am aiming to get straight back onto "The Bright Side of the Road" again. Come and join me - it's loads better!

Feb.

Hello there, I offer my heartfelt support to you as I understand. Great that you are continueing on with the journey. Progress not perfection. Happy new year. T2

Thanks T2 for your post and your support. You are right, in situations like these, it is about positive progress, no matter how small. Sometimes, we strive for perfection but this can often set us up to fail.

Take care.

Feb.

Day 2.

Niggling gambling thoughts in my head - not thoughts about actually gambling I must say. I think/hope this might have something to do with - it takes 21 days to beat an addiction. This is one of my challenges I have set. These 21 days will also give my brain the opportunity for some respite from gambling, which has been slowly creeping back into my life again. I have also joined the 2016 thread challenge but for now, my first challenges are, day at a time, leading up to 21 days challenge. I will then go from there.

Off to my sister's in a bit and then a trip out to the wine bar with the girlies for some fizz - my fav!!

These are the sort of things I can do and enjoy doing, when my money is not spent on gambling. Leaving me with an empty purse! Money is very tight until next payday but I have the funds set aside already for this treat so I will go and enjoy it, then the work will begin on intense money management until payday on 20th Jan. I am an expert on this - when I have very little of it that is!!!

Wishing you all on here, a very Happy and Hopeful New Year.

Take care and sleep peacefully.

Feb - remaining on "The Bright Side of the Road".

Have a good one Feb, tomorrow is another positive day where gambling has no part.

Suzanne xxx

Hi feb sorry to hear of your recent phase of gambling but hey you have done amazing remember that happy new year to you x

The bear x

Thanks Suzanne and Bear - lovely to hear from you also Bear and to see how well you are now doing. can't believe how big your litle boy Max is now!! Happy New Year to you both.

Feb.xx

Thanks Julie.

"The Bright side of the Road" wrote: Day 2. Niggling gambling thoughts in my head - not thoughts about actually gambling I must say. I think/hope this might have something to do with - it takes 21 days to beat an addiction. This is one of my challenges I have set. These 21 days will also give my brain the opportunity for some respite from gambling, which has been slowly creeping back into my life again. I have also joined the 2016 thread challenge but for now, my first challenges are, day at a time, leading up to 21 days challenge. I will then go from there. Off to my sister's in a bit and then a trip out to the wine bar with the girlies for some fizz - my fav!! These are the sort of things I can do and enjoy doing, when my money is not spent on gambling. Leaving me with an empty purse! Money is very tight until next payday but I have the funds set aside already for this treat so I will go and enjoy it, then the work will begin on intense money management until payday on 20th Jan. I am an expert on this - when I have very little of it that is!!! Wishing you all on here, a very Happy and Hopeful New Year. Take care and sleep peacefully. Feb - remaining on "The Bright Side of the Road".

Happy New year and welcome back. Tri x