[icandothis]

Turkey is ready to put in the oven. Potatoes, green beans, pumpkin pie, too. Yams, dressing/stuffing, cranberry sauce on its way. One friend and two dogs are a no-show. Will miss the friend, but not the two dogs! This is going to be a great Thanksgiving! Counting my blessings. Not the biggest, but right up on top of my list…no gambling in November!

[icandothis]

Hi I’m Done,
Just wrote to you and lost it! My new computer is very touchy!
You ask two very good questions. My answer to both are interrelated. I have been gambling for over a decade. I think it became a problem shortly after I started. I believe that my recovery began when I realized that my gambling was a problem. But I think it kind of started without me at that point. It really began when I admitted to myself and to others that in fact gambling was a problem for me. Realizing you have a problem is a start but it is different than admitting that you are powerless over it. If given the opportunity, it will always have more control over my behavior than I do. So, I would say that I am in recovery and that is something I will never take for granted. It is something I work at and at the same time it is a gift. I will never not be in recovery.
Don’t mind me. Sometimes I ramble on other people’s threads. I mean well. lol
Stay hopeful. Hope is a good thing!
I like our how our two names work together.
We are done with this (gambling and all the crap that goes with it) and We can do this (recovery and all the benefits that go with it)

[icandothis]

Hello, I’m done. I just wanted to welcome you to the site. I have to keep this short, but we all can relate to how you are feeling today. Those day after’s. I have had more Day 1’s than I would like to admit. Hang in there.
Keep posting and you will get lots of good advice.
I am not the best at giving advice, except take it one day at a time. Get through today any way you can without gambling. As difficult as it is, let yesterday go. Then get up tomorrow and do the same thing. Someone very wise said that the days will add up. He was right. They do. This day after will turn into a week after and then a month after and so on.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you today. Finding this site and posting is a very good way to start day 1 of your recovery journey!

[icandothis]

I need to get busy getting ready for Thanksgiving dinner. We are having a small gathering. Today is my son’s birthday. I am really missing him and my DIL. They are not coming home for Christmas as planned. I am not going to focus on that. Instead, I am counting my blessings, and my son is one of the biggest in my life, and he has been since he was born.
I am going to stop there because I am about to start boasting. lol
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you in the USA. I saw a sign on a nearby church that read…Thanksgiving is not just a day, it’s a lifestyle. I really liked that, so today, as I clean my house, I am going to give thanks for every dirty thing in it!

[icandothis]

I, too, am having thoughts, P. I have no opportunity to gamble today, so it is easy to pledge for today. Today, my thoughts are of gambling in the future. I pledge to do my best to stop those thoughts, and to stop worrying about the future. It will come one day at a time and I can continue pledging one day at a time.
Have a great gamble free weekend everyone!

[icandothis]

I pledge not to gamble today! I also pledge to embrace my life as it is and to try to accept and embrace it fearlessly no matter what happens! Starting today with an attitude of gratitude!

[icandothis]

Velvet’s idea is great. In addition, maybe you could imagine yourself attacking it in some way with your fearlessness? Maybe with a sword, shining light into its darkness, or maybe even some perfume? lol
I liked your post, so thank you for posting it. Reminded me of how much I let fear take over and cloud my decisions and justify my indecisions.
As Lizbeth said, “I just love this site!”

[icandothis]

Welcome, Tilper. Looking forward to more posts from you. Day 2 and beyond!!! Would love to hear more about you.

[icandothis]

That is such a wonderful post, Kpat. You and your husband just temporarily lost your way. Together with the Grace of God, you will find your way back. The image of your husband holding your hand in prayer. Wow! So, powerful. Hold on to each other; and together keep holding on to God. Things will work out!
I hope you had a wonderful weekend. We spent the weekend in 4 inches of snow and drove home in a blizzard. Oh, how we envy you who live where the weather is warm and the sun shines!!! lol

[icandothis]

Not feeling very motivated today. May not make a TO DO: list.
Just a NOT TO DO: list..

NOT TO DO TODAY, NOVEMBER 17:
1. GAMBLE

[icandothis]

All dressed and nowhere to go again this morning. I even washed and styled my hair! My friend is still not up to a visit. This is not helping my finances. My December paycheck is going to be very small. I did have a nice talk with my friend’s daughter this morning. She told me how much her mom likes me and how the family really appreciates my visits with their mom. Her mother is slowly coming around. So, maybe, Wednesday.
Once, again, the temptation is to put my coat on and head to the casino. Husband thinks I’m working and won’t call me.
I think my laziness is helping me and so I’m going to just sit here in my warm house for a while and do nothing. Maybe, just maybe, I am beginning to care about the way I feel. I know the damage that a rash decision will make. I have to admit, I have been thinking about gambling a lot lately. Not the entire event, just the machines I enjoyed playing. This, I know is dangerous. I need to stop those thoughts right away. Stop allowing myself to think about the games. Instead, I need to think about how I want to feel at the end of the day. Unless, I come home with a million dollars, I know that I will feel really rotten.
The November pledge is helping me since I feel a little added pressure, since I am the one who started it this month. lol
Actually, that fact saved me Saturday. My husband and I were at the trailer. He was watching football, lots of football. I didn’t have much to do. I thought about going to the casino, I thought about it a lot, which was only 15 minutes away. I shared the fact that I was having urges with my husband, which helped. He gave me a hug…then went back to watching football. lol Then, I thought about having to tell you all about my slip. So, I poured myself a glass of wine and started a book my girlfriend gave me. We cooked a delicious dinner, and then we ate it while we both watched football together. It ended up being a lovely evening. But, I started out so restless. I see this as a trigger…my inability to just relax, and my restlessness when I am not busy, which seems funny to say since right now I don’t want to get busy at all! I can’t figure me out! Oh well, thanks to this site, I got through the weekend gamble free and today I am going to stay put.
I am so grateful that I do not have to walk down recovery road alone. Blessings to you all!

[icandothis]

Hi Carole, Our husbands just don’t get it when it comes to our gambling. My husband has also said, “Why don’t you go for just this amount of time and spend this amount of money?” He has also offered the once-a-month thing. Honestly, he offers because he really wouldn’t mind if I spend X amount of money each month on gambling if that is what I wanted to do. He is generous in that way. I wish I could take him up on the offer. We are wiser than that, Carole. We know that we can never go and spend X amount of money. Once a month isn’t enough for us.
Honestly, after all this time, I still wish that I could take X amount of money, gamble once a month, have my fun and be satisfied until the next month.
Somewhere along the way, a line was crossed and we have to face the fact that this will never work for us.
After all the misery and financial devastation, they should know better, too. I think at some level they do. But, in the end, the choice is ours. We must choose what is best for us!
Good for you in making the right choice, Carole!

[icandothis]

You are so right, Micky! We complicate our lives and bring on our own grief! We do not have to continue to do this. I am so glad you are standing on solid ground, wobble free!

[icandothis]

I have been struggling this last week with lots of things. Feeling stuck and unmotivated. My husband and I are going to our cottage this weekend to close things up. He asked me this morning if I was going to go to the cottage today one day early. I guess I can. But my brain went directly to…I can stop on the way. So tempting.
I know I am not strong enough not to stop by the casino. Cannot be trusted alone. I made a list of things to do here, and there are about 20. Nothing I really want to do…no fun at all!
Not convincing myself not to go.
But, today is just one day. It won’t kill me to stay home. I came here to make a pledge not to gamble…just for today, so that November can be gamble free. Especially on the days when the urges are strong. That’s when and why we are here. So, I pledge not to gamble today. God give me the strength to keep my word!

[icandothis]

It sounds like you have so many great things going on with your family. Use these things and focus on how wonderful they are and how much you are looking forward to them. I just LOVE Disney! Can’t imagine anything better than getting in free! Enjoy your day at the park! We’ve only been once, but we had such a great time. I always wanted to get in one more family vacation there, but it didn’t happen. Oh well, maybe with the grandkids!!! Have a great weekend. Don’t let gambling get in the way of your weekend. Don’t even give it a thought. You deserve complete focus on what is important and really fun, too. Like going to Disney World with your family!!!

[Author]

Posts