Congratulations, Lizbeth on your 60th birthday( The new 40!)
Age makes little difference, Lizbeth. It is Peace with our Creator and Health that really c ount.
I was away from GT for weeks. Like you, the “flu” gripped me. Knocked me for six. All I remember of the fist week was lying in agony (throat, ears -even gums and jaws) waiting for the next dose of pain killers to be due.
Strange, when you are away from an online group , how everyone and everything seems to fade into oblivion. I guess it’s different when we are dealing face to face with people, but I seem to have become very distant from “real” people, too. We come to a stage in life when our priorities shift and self preservation takes priority-a type of regression to childhood, perhaps.
You and one or two others here were on my mind when I was ill, Lizbeth and when I caught up on your thread, I now know why.
I have been in your position often, Liz i e “broke at Christmas”. I used methods that would not be orthodox, to cover my tracks/relieve my anxiety/financial stress to tide me over. I used my son’s Credit Union shares often to obtain loans ( explaining that it was for Christmas presents-which was an indirect lie). Did likewise with my husband’s C.U. shares. That would be my Plan B and usually came AFTER I had taken out a couple of “high Interest” loans (which I usually gambled). Could I cope with that madness again? No! It would kill me!!
Lizbeth, I’m not suggesting for one minute that you follow my appalling example, but I want to highlight that it’s not worth stressing ourselves to the gills over money.
It comes and goes. Do what you need to do to get through Christmas.
The only way we make “real” money is to earn it….I went back to working 12 hour shifts at age 52 BUT I was in the throes of gambling then, and the income helped me to further self destruct. Working from home sounds ideal. My sister has looked after babies/children all her married life. Cash in hand is very tempting but for a CG it can be lethal. Also there are insurance/health and safety and police clearance issues to be dealt with so not as straightforward these days as it used to be.
Would you consider renting a room? A friend of mine walks dogs would you believe, for dog owners who can no longer walk theirs and there is money to be made there also babysitting in a child’s own home or sitting with elderly people to give carers a break or working as a full time carer are much needed services.
I pray for you every day, Lizbeth.
I know how life has been a struggle for you. I have my own issues with my son. I haven’t seen him for 14 months. We are working ( my other son and I ) on having him home for Christmas but NOT on his past T & Cs . (His record has been atrocious and I always came out the worst end)
Not this year, Lizbeth. We have to learn to take back our power from people who hurt us or scapegoat us.
Like gambling, we only become powerless when we give that power away.
I know you are coming to that realization too, Lizbeth.
The “hurt” is in us, not in the external situation but oh! boy! there are lots of people who supply the stimulus.
Our main, common objective on this Site is to refrain from gambling one day at a time.
The issues surrounding that common aim are often relevant but sometimes superfluous.
I wish you and yours a Peaceful Christmas. Nothing is perfect. I will go to GA tonight to remind myself that I am and always will be a CG who by God’s grace hasn’t gambled today.
May God’s Hand rest on your shoulder, Libeth and His Love surround you always.
You have my support and admiration .
