Hi everyone
I know I've said this before but it happened again today and I thought I would put it on here again
Someone in my GA group asked me "What's the best thing you've done in recovery"
The more obvious answers would be joining Gamcare, going to GA meetings, connection and accountability or the blocks that gives friction barriers between me and that first bet. I find it helpful to check my friction each week by making sure I am over half an hour from placing a bet, when I can, I add multiple layers to make it harder so I can think before I act.
Anyway I didn't give any of those answers. It was writing my story, back from when gambling started for 44 years ago, to giving up in November and early parts of recovery. I will update my story further down the line. I lived the story but I was the only one who knew. There was a lot buried in the back of my mind to be bought to the forefront but then I decided to share it by posting on this community. It wasn't a badge of honour or a prize winning piece of literature. I didn't require anyone to reply but I wanted to put it out there.
For anyone who is reading this and hasn't already shared their story, when you are ready, I can tell you know it's liberating and is the best thing you can do for your recovery. Just get it out and let it go. I can never change the past but I can change today.
Each day I wake up I remind myself that this new day is a blank canvas. I have the paint 🖌️ and 🎨 to create whatever I want in that day. It may not be a masterpiece but it will be progress rather than perfection. I only need to get recovery right once and the only way to do that is not to leave in the past
Good morning Stuart.
I remember a quote around two years ago. My “then” 9 year old, beautiful great niece said to me …… “Practice makes PROGRESS”!! “Out of the mouths of babes” as the saying goes 🩷. I have never forgotten this quote since.
May all your practicing continue to make progress as you approach each new day ahead 🙏.
Hope today is a good day for you.
Pink Lady 🩷🍎.
Hi Pinkie
Do you mind that or prefer to be called by the apple name ? I think it's more endearing to an exceptional friend on here and supporter to many but let me know as I would never want to offend you.
Thought I would share my gratitude list with you today. It's not as poignant as recent ones but every item carries no financial cost, only effort from me
I'm grateful for
1. Darkness and light
2. Birds always singing when I write this
3. Hope
4. Love inside and outside the fellowship
5. Community inside and outside recovery
6. Empathy in me and others
7. Connection to my feelings and people
8. To be present to live and express those feelings
9. Honesty, the truth has set me free
10. Knowledge that actions mean more than words
By the way, I set up a diary entry on here called quotes. You should put that one up on there and hoping more people put their favourite quotes on there
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