"The Bright Side of the Road"

Day 3.

Happy New Year to everyone! For those not feeling like celebrating, things will improve the more you stay away from gambling. I have been there, t-shirt and all

Lots of fizz last night - well too much really! More of the same later but in moderation this time.

Seems so strange starting to count the days again but needs must I think before things potentially getting out of hand again. Just rembering - day at a time and pre-occupy my mind with other things instead.

Take care all and sleep peacefully.

Feb - starting 2016 back on "The Bright side of The Road"

Thanks Julie. I have had an email from the forum and have replied to them.

Catch up soon

Feb.

Day 4.

Hello everyone.

A weird thing happened to me today. I rang my (88) year old mum, to wish her a happy New Year. She said she was fed up as she had "not seen anyone" for two days. I asked her if she would like to go and have a browse round the shops. Her reply was "I would rather go to the bingo"!! My mum does play bingo just twice per week with her friend. I do not play or go to any bingo halls. I said I would take her but I can say that I did not spend one penny of my money on it and had no intention of doing so, even before I got there.

One thing that really got to me however was, when I was going in, past all the slot machines (never been my thing), there was a very attractive young girl sitting at one of them. When I came out about two and a half hours later, the same young girl was still sitting there! I just thought to myself "what is a young girl like that, looking all pretty, doing in here on slot machines on a Saturday afternoon"? Why was she not out in town shopping or with her mates? Maybe I know the answer to that. That has been my main thought from my afternoon at the bingo, doing my good deed for my mum, apart from thinking "i'm gamble free, get me out of here"!! It was not for me at all and I just could not wait to get home!!

Safe and sound now, in the comfort of my own home.

Take care all and sleep peacefully.

Feb - no spending money on bingo on "The Bright Side of The Road".

Day 5.

Something came to my mind last night. It was a little saying a past member used to say on her diary when ending each of her posts, which was - "Just for today, I will not gamble".

I am an advocate of mindfulness which is all about living in the present with your thoughts and letting them come into your mind without being judgemental and just letting them then leave your mind so as not to dwell.

The above brought me to thinking of this statement. I often used to think that if I told myself, "just for today I will not gamble" that was saying I was giving myself permission to gamble on the other days. I realise now however, that this is also to do with mindfulness and living in the present i.e, the present day. Literally, dealing with each day as it comes.

Thank you Blondie for reminding me of that phrase.

Just for today, I will not gamble.

Feb.

Hi Feb

Of course I remember you as we stopped together, nearly 3 years ago. Sorry to hear about your relapse but in the grand scheme of things you're still doing really well.

I notice you say you are into mindfulness - me too. I've been getting into Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT). It uses mindfulness as a means to leaving a valued life. Seems to make total sense to me. Mindfulness is a useful tool but to some extent a means to an end. By living according to your values (and by setting goals towards your values), you can reconnect with your life. So, in ACT, mindfulness is really a tool to be used - a tool to enable you to live your life as you want to live it (by dealing with self limiting thoughts and feelings etc).

A positive by-product of leading a values lead life is that there is no room for gambling in your life - as gambling feeds off being disconnected from people and life.

Best wishes for the year ahead.

Louis xx

Thank you Louis.

Lovely to hear from you and reading that you still remain gamble free to this day.

Take care and best wishes for 2016.

Feb.

Day 6.

Huge leak in my bedroom ceiling but just for today, I will not gamble.

Roofer coming out tomorrow and then take it from there. Bad news but nowhere near as bad as hitting rock bottom with my gambling back in 2013!! Comes in handy that does at times, reflecting back.

Take care all and so will I

Feb - feeling a bit damp on "The Bright side of the Road".

Day 7.

Drip, drip, drp.... Lying here awake listening to my leaking bedroom ceiling!! Can't wait for the roofer to turn up tomorrow to take a look at it but just for today, I will not gamble.

Feb - feeling shattered on "The Bright Side of the Road"

Well done on one week Feb, you are sooo right any lows now are nothing to when we were gambling, hope you get that leak fixed quickly,

Take care

Suzanne xxx

Thank you Suzanne

Gambling thoughts whilst lying awake until the early hours and very nearly came to fruition! Glad to say they never. Think it was due to frustration at not being able to sleep due to my leak in my ceiling. Got to remember that thoughts are okay - acting negatively on them are not!

Just for today, I will not gamble.

Feb - feeling relieved on "The Bright Side of the Road".

Thanks Feb, and as dear Ade said its ok to look back as long as we don't stare lol.

Have a good day on the Bright side of the road lol

Suzanne xxx

Day 7.

To add insult to injury - I have pigeons in my loft!! I reckon they are getting in via missing slates on my roof, hence the current leak in my ceiling no doubt! They are nothing but a nusiance and knowing they are up there making a noise and no doubt leaving their mess all over my loft insullation, is so annoying to say the least!

I have been told that to get rid of them, could cost me anything from ВЈ500 to £2000!!! I am a women living on her own, who does not do d.i.y, hence no ladders to even get into my loft - I haven't been up there in the 27 years of living here! The nearest thing I have to disturbing them, is my yard brush, which I am forever banging on the loft opening to hopefully frighten them off. Cheeky b------s just keep returning and don't seem to be phased at all! Dread to think of the mess they are causing up there???!!! I can hear them now cooing away!

Got to keep reminding myself that nothing is as bad as when I hit rock bottom with my gambling so I will deal with this and get something sorted one way or another.

Feb - Hating pigeons right now!

Day 7.

So, roofers have been. Just prior to this, I had been banging on my loft opening to scare the pigeons out - result! All THREE of them sat on my roof whilst roofers repaired three large holes!! Even whilst they were doing that, the pigeons were pecking away, trying to get in!! So relieved I got them out in time for repairs to be done, and blocking any further access for them. Also saved me a fair bit of money paying for someone to come and remove them. Hopefully they have found a new home. No more dripping water tonight either so hopefully a decent night's sleep.

Take care all and sleep peacefully - I hope to!

Feb - feeling relieved on "The Bright Side of the Road". Thank the Lord!!

Day 8.

All good and "just for today, I will not gamble".

Take care all.

Feb - feeling warm and dry on "The Bright Side of the Road".

Day 9.

It's feeling a bit strange being back on here and counting days after such long abstinance! Although I have only gambled on a few occasions since April, being back on here, is actually making me think more about gambling. Not that I actually want to gamble but just thinking about gambling in general!

I don't know if I am doing right or wrong therefore?? If this continues, what I may consider is just coming on to post after another full week has past and to post on the 2016 thread. That, way, I can get on with my day to day routine without focussing on gambling related issues every day.

Take care all and "just for today, I will not gamble".

Feb - feeling a bit strange today on "The Bright Side of the Road".