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…to answer your question on my thread, Kin, Yes I think people are tempted a lot when we fast. It’s like giving up gambling. We get the desire to gamble, sometimes totally out of the blue. If you read Matthew 8:4 you will see that even Jesus was tempted in the desert when he fasted for 40 days and nights. The devil never misses a chance but he is a bluffer, Kin. We can resist his lies, especially when it comes to gambling , which we know is one BIG lie.
“By fasting of the body we curb our vices, elevate our minds and bestow virtue and reward”.
I must admit my Lenten fast was shoddy. I could have done better but I did abstain from all sweet things so far. I will improve during the next week or two with greater effort.
I gave up gambling for the New Year (last bet 26th December 2018) Also gave up playing “snake” on my phone and playing “Free Slots” so I am proud of that.
I need to catch up on reading the threads here. I have been busy. Stay strong, Kin. One day at a time.
Sorry to hear you’ve been ill, Sherrie.
If it was serious the doc would have phoned back as soon as the blood results came. Some take longer than others.
Well done on sticking to your Lenten promises. I cheated a bit. Off cake, sweets and all desserts but cheated a bit by having bread and jam.
I don’t drink , smoke or gamble so those habits are easy to resist.
Enjoy your music and your book.
GET WELL SOON xI hear you, when you talk about wanting to be in control. That’s an illusion. The reality of compulsive gambling is…. I am powerless over gambling. Gazing at market prices, horse racing, slot machine images, even mentally, is out of bounds for a CG. Given time, opportunity and access our thoughts become words, our words, deeds, our deeds habits and on it goes until our lives are once more unmanageable. “Recovery” is grounded in a changed mindset.Awareness of what our poison will do if we indulge. Dwelling on what we saw as “fun” in the past leads to destruction and self deception. Self destruction becomes a way of life and we eventually believe this is all we deserve.
Change your thoughts and your actions will follow.
Interesting thread!
for your daughter , Lizbeth.
She will be able to support her daughter financially while you continue to surround her with love and security, one day at a time.
Enjoy every minute . Time is precious.HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your son, Jen. Where did the 13 years go? Be present with him for as often as you can. Gambling steals not just our money but our children too.
Hold tight.
Peace of mnd is priceless.
has been my downfall on many, many occasions. If you didn’t have access to money, what would have become of the want to gamble badly? We know what would have happened if you had gained entry…when the thousand was “invested” and after hours of stress you MAY have hit a jackpot . Then the bells would begin to roar in the security office telling them “Don’t pay this guy. He is banned”. So you would be walking back to the parking lot feeling utterly miserable.
WELL DONE ON 70 G free days. Better than posting “Day 1 …AGAIN”
Most likely you wouldn’t be posting here today If you are like me the CG in you would find another casino and continue to relieve the urge at enomorous expense to your finances and mental/physical health.
Is gambling worth that?
I would say not!
Hi Kin
Thanks for your post.
My “fast” is more about saying no to myself when it comes to eating more than I need.
I have given up chocolate, sweets, cake, biscuits and desserts for Lent. These are a huge part of my diet.
The night time is the most difficult because I am a night eater.
I went on a trip on Friday-by bus and train and realised on the return journey that I hadn’t eaten for several hours. I had just got off a train and had a distance to walk to the connecting bus. I felt faint. I jumped on the fist bus in sight which added an hour to my trip but when I got of I went into Mc Donalds , ordered a veggie burger and tea. It was the most horrible food I ever tasted in my life so I just took a few bites to sustain me, barely made it to the next bus stop and boy was I glad to get back to my car and drive the half hour journey home.
Lesson learned
1. I eat too much
2. I am not able for long fasts without some sort of snack
3. Our Lord fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness FOR MY SINS.
I need to keep my motives for undertaking this Lenten penance in mind.I agree, Monica. Having plans shattered,no matter what the causes is and no matter how important or unimportant the plans are, will always make me feel upset. In the past I learned to handle this type of upset by gambling.
Last Sunday I had a let down similar to yours. All I could think of was going to the casino instead with a bag of money and head full of negative thoughts.(Incidentally, for ill health reasons, today has been another let down.)
It is a form of self pity coupled with self destruction.
For me, it’s also to do with CONTROL. If I feel I can’t control my life , especially if my plans are dashed by an attack of illness it makes me feel bitter.
The thought “What about the guys who stay out all night drinking/drugging/fornicating and yet have their health when all I was trying to do is something normal/even good” fills my mind.!!!
I HATE being prevented from keeping appointments.
I’m very sorry to hear you missed your granddaughter’s performance but hopefully, it will be the first on many.
Will somebody record that show? I’m sure they will.
Now to the job and the IBS…
IBS is related to stress as you know , along with diet etc etc.
I suffered with it for years. It is the most debilitating condition and like gambling, very few people understand it.
Thank God (and touch wood) I have been clear for a long time but even as I type this the ominous grumblings are setting in.
Dairy food, especially ice cream, cream and soft cheese , yeast, sausages and too many mixtures of rich food would set me off. That’s the dietary aspect . Fear, worry and anxiety about upcoming events can be emotional factors too.
This job offer and your dream are most likely linked to the IBS too, Monica. When I read that you have a week to make the decision I felt myself drawing in a deep breath. I don’t handle decisions like that too well. I prefer to act on the spot and get on with things which might seem impulsive but if often works for me. The anticipation of all that can go wrong causes anxiety for me.
When I went back to work at age 52, after a 19 year career break, I jumped at the offer of a Permanent and Pensionable post because I was up to my eyeballs in debt and this was my chance to clear it. The opposite happened . I borrowed on the strength of my “big” salary and ruined myself financially and wrecked my health working 12 hour shifts with a two hour commute .
Just think carefully about your real reasons for taking on this extra pressure, Monica. In reality, you do not need to decide in only one week. Leave your options open. If they are prepared to extend your position in a temporary capacity and if that doesn’t cause you too much uncertainty, leave things as they are pro tem.
Make sure you are not going ahead to please your boss or over sell yourself.
A permanent job comes with all the pros that have been listed but if it is to bring pressure (which it inevitably will) then it is not worth it. Money comes and goes. It is not our god. We will never regain all we lost gambling so best to start with a clean slate and make the best of life by living within our means. If you curtail your spending and save some every week, it will give you some security if security is what you are looking for. None of us are getting younger, Monica so maybe looking for a less stressful life could be the best option.
I have a pecking order in my life now.
Faith
Family
Work
The second two are transient and change with circumstance and time and are out of my control. Of late, they have become far less important than the first.
Avoiding the water (in the dream) is symbolic of avoiding
emotional ties. Like you, I got tied up with some people at work emotionally and indeed financially.
The prospect of the new job offer seems to come with a lot of emotional issues. I would be wary of that.
If I were to re trace my steps, I would have kept business and pleasure separate. I don’t want to sound sexist but working with male colleagues made work easier. When it comes to friends, the females won out …well, on 2nd thoughts perhaps what is just a return to my investment in those friendships. ….Today is a rough one for me, too.
Life can be complex.
Keep it simpleTry not to think ahead, Lizbeth.
I know how anxiety about future plans can convince the addictive part of the brain that gambling will solve everything.
That’s a lie.
Stay focused.
Everything will be alright.
One day at a time.Good to meet you in the Group, Laura.
Glad you have a break from commuting all the time.
Nice to have a “safe zone” but having outside contact is important too.
Stay in touch.AS I understand it, the whole point of handing over control of money is to keep it safe. It will still be YOUR money albeit in the care of a RESPONSIBLE person who releases amounts to you for what you want and when you want (need) it.
The whole point of this exercise is to prevent you spending money on gambling . It is a mutual agreement between two equals.
Not a chance for the 2nd party to have field day at your expense.
This is very unfair (bordering on control ) action on your husband’s part.
Please do not allow him to put you on the back foot, Sherrie. I would put an end to that arrangement, pronto. As IDI said it would be enough to drive me to the hell we are all trying to escape from.
You asked him for help , not for punishment.
It actually makes me mad to read about this , Sherrie.
If this post offends you in any way, I will remove it.
Sounds as if you need Marriage Counselling as per Steve’s post.