Originally posted by bettie
… With "Fat Tuesday" pending …
Bettie, thanks for the post. I will use it as a reason for me to post to this thread, my first topic that I seem to neglect. But neglect is not the real case, I am just not the type that post about everyday activities; perhaps another type character flaw that I need to correct, I find great benefit in reading about the lives of others.
This year I will not be going to Mardi Gras like I have for the past thirty-some years, I decided instead to stay in town and attend a concert by an old, old time favorite of mine, Merl Haggard. I am mentioning this because the last time I tried to see him he cancelled; and the concert just happened to be out of town at a casino theater in Tunica Mississippi. His cancelling placed me in a situation that I had not planned on; it left be with time and money on hand at the mercy of the connecting casino instead of my being there for the enjoyment and entertainment.
I am tying my story into Bettie’s post because her staying on line with me in the chat room that night allowed me to stay in my hotel room and not roam the halls of the casino floor — she was a great help. Reaching out for help before gambling, and not after a return, is the best way to stay gambling free when urges or opportunities arise. Thanks Bettie, and thanks to the other I have depended on and turned to at such other times.
Back to Fat Tuesday – Mardi Gras. Mardi Gras, the day before Ash Wednesday, was used as a day to enjoy some of our favorite everyday things before Lent when Christians were to observe sacrifices and abstain form normal everyday enjoyments through self-denial to remind them of the sacrifice made by their God. Through the years, however, Mardi Gras has evolved, or digressed, into mainly a time for many to do outlandish things and push the limits of conscience or morals on this day – a day of debauchery instead of reflection; most of the time only following through with doing the same things during the season of Lent as they had done on each day before — it was now only a party to "Laissez le Bon temp rouler" – let the good times roll.
In recovery my last "Fat Tuesday" related to gambling was a Wednesday, August 13, 2009. That day was my biggest day of letting all go, and the one that led me to letting that day and the gambling go also and begin living a better way of life, even after forty days of just abstaining. The forty days during this "Lent" time started changes in my life and character that has helped me work on Recovery and me move forward from that time on.
I still enjoy and think of today’s Mardi Gras as a time to let the good time roll during this yearly celebration, but thankful, the good times do not include gambling — there can be no yearly or occasional "one last time" to let the dice roll. And I will miss the " beignets"- donuts, this year but I can cook them for myself (or settle for the inferior and copy-cat ones locals tyr to imitate — Not).
God’s speed to all. "Laissez le Bon temp rouler"; but only the gambling free good times.
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 will continue to remain gambling free.