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Happy Birthday, Kathryn! Two years is an awesome achievement. When I read your thread and different posts throughout this forum, I read "growth." That, to me, is what true recovery is all about. I wish you all the best and much happiness in your continued recovery. Linnie Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.
Hi Maria, I was really worried about you, especially with the tornadoes that hit your area not long ago. I was so relieved when I saw your post. I know exactly how you are feeling, Maria. I gambled last week and I’m still fighting those feelings. We are compulsive gamblers, not necessarily by choice, who desperately want to stop. I can’t tell you why it is so much harder for some of us to finally get there. I wish I could. With all of the knowledge we have gained during our quit *****, you would think we had all the answers. There’s no doubt, as stated by GA, that this is a very baffling and insidious addiction (disease). While it’s true that some of us have taken a few wrong turns along the way, it must also be acknowledged that we eventually find ourselves back on the right path, usually with a much stronger resolve and better equipped than we were before. This doesn’t make us bad or defective people — it just makes us people who are struggling with a very powerful addiction. When I was in counseling, I spoke of how I felt when members in GA who had time in seemed to build themselves up by tearing others down. People like me who had been in and out of the program because they returned to gambling. A two part question was put before me, "Who is the better person in this situation?" "The person who has time and can belittle others who are struggling, or the person who is struggling and trying with everything they have to be a better person?" I’m of the belief that it doesn’t matter how many ***** you fall, but how many ***** you get up. The key is to never, ever give up on yourself. I know that we both have within us the strength to get through this, but we must use all of the tools we have available to us at all *****, and, yes, as they say, we have to do it one day at a time. We need to forgive ourselves for being human, for not being perfect, and to quickly get back to where we want to be. I know we can do this! Love ya, Linnie Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.
Hey Moe, just wanted to say thanks for your support. Good for you on the self-ban. I know it took a lot of courage on your part. Hang in there Moe and keep up the good work. Live for today. Hope for tomorrow.
Kathryn, thinking of you as you go through this uncertain time. I hope everything works out for the best. Stay strong! Linnie
Hi Bettie, hope you’re doing well. I read with interest your post about the pizza/party place and pending lawsuit. I’ve taken my niece and nephew to Chuckie Cheese’s on many occasion, and often thought that this was nothing more than an early introduction to gambling. I jokingly referred to CC’s as a toddler’s casino. Not a joking matter really when you see what places like this are doing to our children. The kids can’t get enough of this stuff and it’s really difficult to get them out of there. Not many of the games are "skill" games. Most are chance games that last for a few seconds. The number of tickets that the games spit out depends on being at the right game/machine at the right time. No different than slot machines, in my opinion. There could be something to this lawsuit. It should be interesting to follow.
Also, wanted to mention that I read one of your posts on the other forum (problem gamblers, I think) regarding your thoughts on GA. I was able to relate to much of what you said and appreciated the fact that I was not alone in my thinking/experiences.
Congrats on your gf time and thanks for sharing.
Linnie
Hi Kathryn, Hope you’re doing well. After doing some more reading this morning, I realized that I screwed up when I said you were coming up to one year. So sorry. This is 2011 and you started this journey in 2009. That would be two years. Yes, if I really put my mind to it, I can still count. Still trying to get up to speed with everyone and spending more time reading. I’m going to try to join in on Friday’s topic discussion. It should be an interesting one. I just want to say that you are doing such an awesome job. Continued best wishes. Linnie
Hi Kathryn, Hope you’re doing well. I’ve been doing some reading, which for me can be just as therapeutic as writing. When I saw that you have 153 pages to your thread, I realized that this is a book, and I’ll need to break it down into chapters (lol). Read enough to know that you’ll soon be approaching one year, and that, my dear, is a major accomplishment. It looks like you’ve faced many challenges along the way and have handled them all in such positive ways. You should be very proud of yourself. Take care and have a good weekend.