Originally posted by bettie
Hi Guys,
Went to dinner with my brother at a favorite restruant last night. Much to my suprise my brother told me about some construction they were doing in the banquet room.
…They added VLT’s …
I guess I just have to get used to these things popping up all over the place. I feel much like my friend Pp, because there is no exclusion that could be enforced on these things.
bettie
Good morning Bettie,
I have come to see the video poker and lottery terminals as no more part on my life than the lottery tickets sold everywhere, or the office sport pools as work. The gambling industry is everywhere. When I first started on my road of recovery I could not visit New Orleans for almost a year because of the fear I had of these machines being at every turn, Missouri at the time was yet to allow them here as they do now in bars. In fact, I am happy to say the the casinos here are not an attraction to me, but nevertheless it is still the power of my addiction that I have to deal with.
Thankfully I can recognize this controlling power and that helps me view these obstacles and "Step" (as in your GA Step program) around them. I know that I need to separate myself from the "devil within" more than the tools that he uses. I even knew this when I gambled a few months back, that knowledge was at hand then but unfortunately I only recognized the truth enough to try and hide my wrongful actions form those around me; I drove hundreds of miles to feed the addiction and escape troubling news so at the time I would not be found out — but I immediately knew afterwards that had to share the events with others anyway. Just think, if I had not wasted a few hundred dollars on a hotel, car rental, and gas I would have had more funds to gamble, lol — a very poor joke but still a little funny in a way, humor is based on suffering and misfortune.
My telling of my actions again is a lead in to say, don’t try to get used to the machines, this will make them seem friendly and harmless, but hold on to the fact and truth that they are not part of "your" life, but merely part of the decor an attraction to others. Keep working at separating yourself from the power of the addiction and let the gambling industry go about their business; the devil’s business. I recall that the first local GA conference I attended was held at facilities across the way from a newly opened casino, but we just has to deal with it; it wasn’t something to get used to, it was only an obstacle to overcome and "Step" over. But as some precaution, your can try to only patronize the gambling free businesses that you know of, and get used to being surprised that the ones you choose may have joined the others that are popping up everywhere at any time — in Nevada even McDonald’s offers gambling (in addition to the gamble we are taking with our health lol).
God’s speed. Stay strong. Keep aware.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.