I will join you Shaun

Used to do Monthly Pacts with members a few years ago
Some members had reservations
Felt it could be setting ourselves up for a fall
But whatever helps new members, I’m prepared to go along
One day at a time
Just for today, August 1st, I will not gamble!

I’m one of those that has/had reservations. But will always commit to “just for today” and one day at a time.

But I’ll join you Shaun and Vera,

Aug 1st 2017 . Today I won’t gamble.

Just for today, I will not gamble!

Today Aug 2nd I wont gamble

Just for today
I
will
not
gamble

Aug 3rd I will not gamble

I’m with you!!!!!!
Every day gamble free is a good day!
It sucks out your soul and spits you out!
Life is too short my friend!
Love K xx

Not today. Aug 4th no gambling for me.

No gambling planned for today.
Day out arranged instead, ‘cos recovery is not only about not gambling….

Just for today, I will choose not to gamble.

Aug 5th I won’t gamble.

First week of August almost over.
No gambling today.

I won’t gamble today, August 6th.

Shaun you didn’t post yesterday, I’m posting my daily pledge on here everyday this month, in support of your commitment to get through the month gamble free, in an effort to help you, support you, and show you if you look after the single days, one day at a time, then the weeks, months, and years will look after themselves.

Hope you post your pledge for a gamble free day today.

Well Shaun thanks for being honest, pointless being here if you’re not going to be.

Mate it’s your life but you should know that a social bet to a compulsive gambler can be as destructive as small whiskey is to an alcoholic. It can be the start of a very slippery slope believe me.

You don’t need to apologise to me or any one else on here for gambling, you haven’t let anybody down, except maybe yourself and your family.

IF you get to the end of the month and that’s the only bet you’ve placed, then it’s not such a bad start, is it.

You managed five days mate. Five full days without gambling, something that might have seemed impossible once upon a time.

It really is as simple as getting through just one day at a time.

Did you bet online or at a bookies?

Don’t be too harsh on yourself, by the sounds of it though you do have a serious problem. Have you read my recent post “a horror story” if not, please do. Then bare in mind that once upon a time I wondered if a social bet would be ok.

Take care for now, I’m driving just stopped for a pee, otherwise I would have posted more.

Geordie

7th Aug just for today, I won’t gamble

just for today, no gambling!

Today will be a non gambling day

Just for today I won’t gamble.

Think about it carefully Shaun. Even if the bet won, what good would that do. Whatever you won, would end up going back anyway. Best off not going at all. Cut the middleman out.

I know the feeling you describe, I don’t get it now thankfully, gambling dosnt excite me in the slightest. I do know though if I let my mind wander or let my guard down, it wouldn’t be too long before I started getting them feelings again. They will subside eventually.

….or any day, CGs can’t do “controlled “bets Saun.

Just for today I have plans made to make gambling an impossibility.

I won’t gamble today

I am gamble free today!

Just for today

Today, I will not gamble

Do not trust yourself. Detach yourself from this thought to do control gambling.
I am gamble free today!

I am gamble free today!

Today, I won’t gamble.

I am gamble free today!

another gamble free day

Where are you today mate?

It’s the glorious twelfth.

Today I won’t gamble.

I don’t panic much these days Shaun. I don’t understand your post though. Surely you should be making a commitment to a gamble free day as soon as you wake up.

It’s not about fooling yourself, more about not letting your addiction fool you.

Twelve days ago you commited not to gamble for this month, I don’t think you’ve let yourself or anyone down by not succeeding in that commitment. I think you will be letting yourself down though if you do not make a fresh commitment each and everyday not to gamble, and stick to it.

It’s hard sometimes just to get through one hour, never mind one day, let alone a month.

You will only gamble if YOU want to.

Imagine how good you will feel getting through the rest of this month without anymore gambling. What’s the worst that can happen if you don’t gamble? You might miss a big win? Lol lol I’m sure you’ve had plenty “winners” in the past, look where that’s got you.

Time to kiss it goodbye Shaun. If you want a better life, it’s yours for the taking. One day at a time it is possible for anyone and everyone.

Posting in the evenings is a cop out in my mind mate, two thirds of the day are gone. It says to me ” just in case I don’t make it through the day. ”

And that is fooling yourself.

I am gamble free today!

I do know it takes a long time to change.

I also know that any compulsive gambler, who understands that they are powerless over their addiction, is capable of getting through one day without a bet.

There’s one thing that makes us gamble and that is ourselves. “I just couldn’t help it,” or “I just found myself in the bookies,” don’t hold much water, in my eyes.

You’ve proven to yourself and all the people who read the forums that you are capable of getting through a day without gambling. If you can get through one day, you can get through any day.

Vera said people had reservations about the monthly pact that was ongoing on here for a long time.

I was probably the biggest critic of it. Why make such sweeping commitments when it’s blatantly obvious that most new comers struggle to get through a day or two.

I was critical of it because it just becomes the written equivalent of lip service. “Just for today I will not gamble” becomes just words to some people, they write/say it but don’t really commit to it. So what’s the point of having a pact or pledge?

Also in those days there were a lot more using the forum and it was quite obvious sometimes that when one person went tits up it had a sort of domino effect.

35 years of my life has been consumed by gambling. I haven’t gambled at all this year.

You’ve got to find your own way through life and recovery Shaun, I’d be foolish to think that you or anyone will learn from my mistakes, I never learned from any body else’s.

I hope you keep on posting for your own good. And it would be daft you posting “just for today I won’t gamble” if you think that there’s a real chance you might.

I’m not disappointed mate. I’ve been using this forum for years and there is loads of times I’ve come on here asking for support and then just ignored it and I’m not the only one.

Answer me these two questions though please Shaun. What’s the best thing that could happen if you gamble. What’s the worst thing that will happen if you don’t?

Just for today mate, you can stop away from it.
.

I will NOT gamble!

It took me too many years mate. It’s bloody frustrating because it didn’t have to.

Aye it’s not nice watching people making the same mistakes I made and the angry outbursts I get are really aimed at my former self.

Pleased you’ve got something on today though, first day of the football season is hard for lots of people.

I’m just getting into “game of thrones” myself, never had time to get into telly when I was gambling.

One day it will all click for you mate, I hope it’s sooner rather than later.

Dear Bro Shaun,
Gambling steal, rob and destroy us!

Yesterday has passed, tomorrow have not arrive, we can only stay gamble free today.

August 13th, just for today I won’t gamble!

I am gamble free today!

no gambling today

Just for today I won’t gamble.

No gambling planned for today

I am gamble free today!

Just for today I won’t gamble

I will not gamble on this “special” day.

I have thought about placing a football bet today, and I also thought about this thread, which was becoming a daily routine. I wanted to and is going to stay gamble free today!

Not today, not for me.

Just for today I will not gamble!

I am gamble free today!

Just for today I won’t gamble. more than half way through month.

No gambling today

Just for today I won’t gamble

No gambling today

Another Saturday, another day. Just for today I won’t gamble.

I will not gamble today because CGs never win.

On Friday, I had thoughts to gamble after work, this happens all the times when I was tired and exhausted. I choose not to listen and trust my thought and stay gamble free.

I feel better now after a good night sleep.

Yesterday between 8 pm to 10 pm Singapore time, I was suffering from white knuckle recovery. I notice that my anxiety level was very high, my feeling was very intense and I have a very strong urge to visit a betting house to watch live EPL football. I felt that I could not stop myself so I text a recovery friend to tell her about it, she suggested that I watch a movie instead, I didn’t question her, it was better for me to follow her direction when all else failed for me.
By 11 pm, calmness has return and life become manageable again. I survive another day from self destructive behaviors.
This too shall pass.

Just for today.

You are doing yourself great credit Kin. Well done, mind over matter.

No gambling today

(This “pact” has helped to keep you grounded, Kin. Good move coming here!)

Another gamble free day ahead

Me too. Just for today I won’t gamble.

Aug 22nd

no gambling today

no gambling today

No gambling for me today.

Not too much longer mate, are you looking forward to it?

Sounds good mate, but don’t be making hasty decisions. You know the quality of life of an active CG mate.

Remember how hard you’ve found getting through this month without gambling, job or no job mate, do you really think you’ll have any quality of life if you don’t go?

Hard decision for you Shaun, hope you make the right one.

Many chaps have already made the errors Shaun, you don’t really need to.

But Shaun, I know, through my own experiences, better than most, that regardless of what anyone says, we all still learn from our own mistakes not other peoples’. Even though hundreds of other people have walked the same road before us and made the mistakes. We all just need to find out for ourselves. Of course that’s absolute bollocks and we should learn from others mistakes.

Personally Shaun to me it’s a no brainer, you’ve got a place and should grab it with both hands. It was only a few weeks ago you reminded me that you wouldn’t change overnight, and no of course you won’t. So isn’t that reason enough to go to GMA?

A job for life does sound tempting, but I would think in all honesty it would be depending on you not letting the addiction drag you down again and fcking your life up.

Anyway mate, whatever you decide I hope you keep on getting support to help you through this.

My life at the minute is so up and down, stressful to say the least.

I’m pleased to say though that just for today, 24th August, I won’t gamble.

no gambling today

Just for today I won’t gamble.

My first night back at work since Saturday, I am knackered, if I get a lengthy break through the night I’ll do a post Shaun. But briefly have had my daughter and grandson here they went back on 9pm train. 8.5 hrs at legoland yesterday then a midnight sightseeing trip. Any gtg my lorry’s getting loaded.

No gambling today

Saturday , August 26th will be a gamble free day.

No gambling for me, not today. Just for today I won’t gamble.

Yes mate, it’s shite!

Sunday 27th. Just for today I won’t gamble!

no gambling

28 days G free this month

( 608 days in total since my last disaster)

28 days gamble free this month, one day at a time. I don’t know how many days in total, I’ve no desire to work it out either. Nowhere near 608 though, probably less than half of that, I’m really pleased for you Vera.

Just for today I won’t gamble though.

Just coz you havnt mentioned it, have you decided against it?

Yes you can beat this Shaun, just as we all can. I hope you stick to your guns with regards to GA, as the more healthy support you can get eases your burden.

Did you get the job?

29th today, do you have any regrets about not going to GMA?

The important thing mate is to keep gambling free and you’re doing well with that.

Another day without gambling for me today, 29th August.

I will not gamble today because CGs N E V E R win!

Only one day of the month left, today I won’t gamble. As Vera says, CGs NEVER win, but I’m not gambling today because I don’t bloody want to, and I haven’t wanted to for ages. Why I ever did remains a mystery, maybe I’ll want to tomorrow or next week, next month or next year. But not today. Just for today I won’t gamble.

No Shaun 14 weeks won’t cure you nothing will, you have this addiction for life. Dosn’t mean you’ll gamble for life though. In fact no reason for you, or any of us, to ever gamble again.

GMA is great mate but there is no guarantee with it. Most people don’t get the chance to go there and I can understand why you’re not going.

So far so good anyway mate, I would reckon even just a month or two ago you would have thought getting through 15 days without gambling impossible for yourself.

But as you say one day at a time you can beat this.

I don’t gamble on Wednesdays……………………………..

..against gambling this August, one day at a time.
Thanks Shaun for suggesting that we should keep August a G free month.
Today August 31st, I will not gamble.

30 down, 1 to go. Just for today I won’t gamble.

Then that’ll be a full month of one day at a times. September tomorrow Shaun are you starting a September thread?

Getting to the end of this month, to be honest, is not a big deal. Because it is only ever no more than one day at a time.

Today I won’t gamble.

How’s it going this month Shaun.

Just for today!

Haven’t seen a post from you for a while Shaun. Everything ok?
Hope the kids are settled back in school
Roll on Christmas! HA HA!

I was going to ask the same Vera.

Maybe you start a Spetember daily pledge thread Shaun. It’s good to be accountable, I’ll join in if you do.

Hope alls well mate. Whatever is going on for you, you do have the same problem as me you are a CG and I believe to keep the addiction at bay you will always need suppot, just like the rest of us.

Be nice to see a few lines from you whatever is happening.

How’s it hanging Shaun?

How’s it going mate.

The forums here 24/7 whether things are going good, bad or indifferent.

Would be nice to know how you’re coping.

This might sound a daft question mate, and I do understand your answer before you give it. Whatever the answer is.

Do you really want to stop, or are you happy plodding along

Shaun theres a support group on now nobody there just me if you want to pop in for a chat. Im not gonna give you a hard time, or call you a daft so’n’so

Mate you’re never going to have control you know. Never.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow as you know, but until you can accept that you’re always going to have the missus on your back.

Hope you can make a group one time, take care Shaun.

Hi Shaun,
I’ve read through your posts and I feel for you. But you don’t really want to quit do you? I understand that feeling. I hope you can change your mind soon before it potentially ruins you. Somehow it always spirals out of control with time. I wish you the best in your journey…

fyi – setting up a one month challenge was never a good idea. I like that you got support and that was caring but it was never going to succeed and never going to end well. Once you got the month what better way to reward yourself than to place a bet. Especially after you saved extra money from not gambling.
If you want to stop you need to be honest with loved ones about your problem. Exclude from all sites and local gambling places, you need to turn over ALL finances to someone that you can trust, and then you need to admit that you are powerless to this thing and really be ready to fight the demon. You shouldn’t;t make 1 month pledges. Make lifelong pledges and make a decision to stop something that is detrimental toy you and your loved ones.

Thanks Shaun, I saw you started another pledge. Thats great. Keep up the good work. It doesn’t;t matter how you do it as long as you just don’t gamble again. When I say you I mean all of us… 🙂 Gambling generally always ending badly.