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Originally posted by vera
On May 4th 2008 (five years ago), I joined GT.
No time for regrets. Life goes on…odaat!Good afternoon Vera,
Recovery calls for a serious approach and a continuous dedication to a journey that takes many turns and detours. Looking back only takes our eyes from the road ahead if it only adds to regrets instead of adding knowledge and warnings.
And not to take away from the seriousness of recovery, having a sense of humor is also a help; so, with that in mind and your date of coming on board at GT as a lead-in:
"May the 4Th be with you always" ~ Luke Skywalker, Star Wars (While slightly inebriated and trying to pronounce Force).
God’s speed. Stay strong.
Larry
Thanks to my Higher Power, My 3G’s – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.– 5/5/2013 2:12:50 PM: post edited by paul315.Originally posted by kin
… I can’t heal my hurts,
hang-up, and habits by just saying that they are not there …Good morning Kin,
It is good to come to realize that a greater power can restore us to a more normal way of thinking an living, and to know that we can turn our lives over to this Higher Power.
And even for those that may not believe in the God that you call upon and honor in your post, all in recovery can benefit from the truths found in religious teaching. And not to take anything away from your beliefs in any way, I have found similar direction in the teaching of GA as well; teachings that can be used as guidelines for non GA members the same that the essence of your prayer can be used by others. It all comes down to us "letting go and letting God", for us to pray your prayer, to practice Step 7 – "Humbly asked God (of our understanding) to remove our shortcomings", or to follow requirements coming form a different source.
As you are learning and have pointed out here, we can not "fix" ourselves; we need a Higher Power to hold onto when will-power alone gives way for some trivial reason.
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep using your faith as a strength to overcome. LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by sherrie
… Find a way to measure 60 seconds …Good morning Sherrie,
I read in your post in the May ODAAT topic that your are celebrating a milestone and will be honored at your meeting. This achievement was reached by not only not gambling each day, it took being aware each 60 seconds of each day. Using this amount of time each day to focus your thoughts, is the start of finishing each day in a way that keeps us free.
Well done. God’s speed. Stay strong.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by reds
Just for today, I will not gamble away my time, freedom or peace of mind.Good morning Reds,
Your closing words say a lot about this addiction and our need to work at recovery "just for today", an addiction that is more than a financial problem and has more that financial consequences, e.g. as you say it steals our time, freedom, and peace of mind.
Even if you have to sigh off here for the summer, keep your mind signed onto what you need to carry you forward.
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep active. LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by cat438
… I start a new one of these every month …
One day at a time my sweet lord…
Good afternoon all,
Just so happens it is May in the Americas as well, also ‘May Day" for a lot of events and celebrations; it may have been lacking a few minutes in being the actual date when Cat started the May Pact, but we do eventually catch up just as I am catching up now by joining in on this effort of determination and support.
But the important thing is that like her starting a new topic each month, we can be gambling free during that month by effectively starting a new day each day. Each new day represents being the day that we no not gamble for anything, no mater what day of the month or year it falls on. "It take days to make weeks, weeks to make months, and months to make years"; all leading to a lifetime of living a more normal life ODAAT.
"BE PATIENT! The days and weeks will pass soon enough, and as you regularly attend meetings, abstain from gambling and follow the guidelines (of recovery), you will experience continued recovery." ~ a guideline from the GA Combo Book for all in recovery no matter what program they follow.
God’s speed. Stay strong. LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Первоначально отправлено неконтролируемым
100 ДНЕЙ ……………….
Доброе утро, Эд,
Отличная работа! 100 дней – это важная веха, признанная во многих мероприятиях; для человека здесь, в Штатах, сегодня также 100-й день второго президентского срока – средства массовой информации оценивают прогресс на 100-й день каждого 4-летнего срока. Моя внучка также отмечает 100-й день учебного года с проектом, который включает 100 пунктов.
Однако здесь мы с большим почтением признаем ваши достижения, ваша работа имеет большую ценность. Опять же, молодец.
Божья скорость. Оставайся сильным. Ларри. Благодаря моей Высшей Силе, Моим 3G – Богу, GA и GT, «День второй – еще один день позади», и с помощью всех я надеюсь и дальше оставаться в азартных играх бесплатно.Originally posted by uncontrolled
100 DAYS ……………….
Good morning Ed,
Well done! 100 days is a milestone that is recognized in many activities; for one here in the States today is also the 100th day of our President’s second term — an evaluation is made by the news media on the progress on the 100th day of each 4 year term. My granddaughter also celebrates the 100 day of the school year with a project that involves 100 items.
However, we here recognize your achievement with more reverence, your work has a greater value. Again, well done.
God’s speed. Stay strong.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by Kathryn … have no idea what I need, let alone how to find it.
Good morning Kathryn,
Not knowing how to find what we need, even if we have no idea what it is, is a little depressing but not all bad. In the past we all "knew" that we could find whatever it was in gambling, not you know that gambling is not the answer; the urges may be strong but they will pass, let your knowledge carry you pass the urge so that you can see the real problem you are struggling with today.
In my last post a suggestion from there pops out to me in my reply now, not in the humor that surrounded it, but in a thought connected to that solution; "thankfully we can fall back on non-technical remedies". In the beginning days of this topic, of your (new thread), you also felt a need, a need for extra help. The actions you took then, i.e. "i went to a g.a. meeting last night. It was good, i felt better when i left than when i walked in. I just need the extra help so i’m taking It", might also be what you need now, it maybe the idea that is hidden, and the thing that will also help in the loneliness you feel. Sharing your problems and struggles with others again may give you the jolt and renewed outlook on your life that will get you past these times. Even going to a couple of meetings may be what is needed, and if not attending a GA meeting, getting back in touch with a counselor may provide similar help in your quest to live and to keep living gambling free a great adventure.
In closing I will use a quote that I found missing in this post of you reaching out, one that says a lot about our search for adventures, and the best way to find and enjoy them — "To live, (and for a CG, to live gambling free) that would be a great adventure" ~ Peter Pan
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep active, do something.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by kathryn
… typing with one hand while the other is holding the charger in place as hard as i can !!!!! …
To live, that would be a great adventure – Peter Pan
Good morning Kathryn,
Good to her from you and that "nothing too dramatic" is interfering with a more normal way of living.
Computers can be troublesome at times, but thankfully we can fall back on non-technical remedies; even hear of Duct Tape?
God’s speed. Stay strong.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by framesandy88… LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKES
Good morning Andy, a belated welcome to GT. I read your first post and have no reason for not responding then, but would still like you to know that you are not alone; we have all experienced your problem and struggles. Also a belated Happy Birthday (your belly-button birthday), you have your whole life before you and can make it more normal and fruitful by also celebrating yearly recovery "birthdays" of living and accumulating gambling free time One Day At A Time.
My name is Larry and I am a compulsive gambler, my last bet was October 17, 2009, a bet made when I found myself unguarded and in the right set of circumstances after over three years of being gambling free — allowing myself to be influenced by the wrong circumstances the same as you a few days ago, we are all one bet away from repeating our past mistakes.
The motto that you are choosing for your recovery is a positive one, but it is also one that our addiction has the power to suppress; we look back at our mistakes and read about the mistakes of others yet when the addiction takes over we care little about the consequences — it is a characteristic of compulsive gamblers. In recovery the best way to learn form our mistakes is to change what caused us to make them, in recovery "without change, there will be no change" we will still make the same mistakes over and over if we hold onto character faults and negative attitudes against doing what is right when it does not agree with an established thought process.
Another thing that might be looked at in keeping yourself guarded is the circumstance that you describe as " Had a few more beers then … …", when we let our rational thinking be influenced by any outside force be it alcohol, medical, or emotional issues, we are giving our addiction the opening to reenter our lives. Working on a positive program of recovery not only changes our lives in regard to gambling, it will also allow us to think and act in more rational ways is all aspects of our lives; when we become stronger in combating the addiction, we also become stronger in recognizing and dealing with the things that the addiction feeds on.
Keep coming back here and reading the stories of others, they may not be repeated in the replies to your post and request, but they are here in the different topics of each member; you have to do after recovery, it does not come to you". Look for a live support group in your area such as Gamblers Anonymous, reach out to your family and friends for support, do all you can to combat this addiction and return to being the person that you are meant to be.
God’s speed, use your Higher Power to guide and strengthen you.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by kin
Dear diary,
I had to do something about my life now
it is going no where now … … …Good morning Kin,
It is good to hear from you and see that you have again come to believe the words above from your first post to this topic.
Harry mentioned a post from Colin as one with a powerful message; you yourself posted an equally powerful one in the fable of a Journey Down the Sidewalk of Life (see http://www.lessons4living.com/sidewalk_of_life.htm); now is now, and it is the time to walk down a different street, to do what Harry also post from time to time, "what are you going to do different this time".
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep active, and follow the map found in your Journal.
LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.Originally posted by bigE
… this might seem not a big problem, but it really is for me …Good morning E, my name is Larry and I am a compulsive gambler, my last bet was October 17, 2009, gambling when I found myself unguarded in the right set of circumstances after over three years of being gambling free — A CG’s perfect storm.
Welcome to GT, a place where you are not alone, there are others here that have experienced the same problems as you and are working at returning to a more normal way of life. No problem is bigger or less than an other’s own problem; our gambling might be measured in degrees or stages, but the problem is relatively the same for each. When people mention the amounts of monies lost it is to remind them of their personal losses the consequences of their gambling, it is not to compare this problem with others that are sharing in loosing their "everything" in the same way. Compulsive gambling is more that a financial problem, money is not the only looses that we have to deal with when we give into the control of this addiction; as you stated above, when compulsive gambling take over, life is taking more than giving.
Keep using this site for the help that it can provide, read the post of others, post about the actions that you are taking, about your struggles and progress, use the forum as your journal so that you can red back and see what is working and what actions may need to be changed or increased. Look for a live support group in your area to add to the support that you will find here, if Gamblers Anonymous has a meeting in your area they are a good source of this help. Do all your can to combat this disease, "you have to go after recovery, it does not come to you".
God’s speed, use your Higher Power to guide and strengthen you.LarryThanks to my Higher Power, My 3G's – God, GA, and GT, "Day Two Is Another Day Behind" and with the help from all I hope to continue to remain gambling free.