[cat438]

It is already day 3 of February and I hope and pray that everyone on GT managed to get through the first two days, but no matter there are still 26 more days to get through.
I put Month of Love beside February as I though it is Valentine’s Day in February. I really feel that many of us here have challenges in loving ourselves as we are. I know that I am one of them. How many are like me and play the “If only game”. If only I did not gamble or if only I was not fat or whatever it is we always look at our shortcomings. We think that our life would be perfect when we dealt with our “if only”. I know for me it is a challenge to stay away from the Casino and the machines. I have learned so much about myself since I started recovery and I am a work in progress. I now feel that I am worth working on though and I will continue to do my best ODAAT.

[ready2change]

Great post Cat count me in odaat

[icandothis]

Cat, I am glad you started a new pledge for February. I noticed there weren’t a lot who posted on the January pledge thread. I hesitated to participate in February myself because there is this piece of me that doesn’t think I can make it through the entire month. So why pledge something I don’t believe I can do? Or, to be honest, really want to do. Then in the past, by working recovery or more like it…the Grace of God, I make it through the middle of the month. I think to myself, “Maybe I can make it through the rest of the month.” or…I gamble. Then, by the Grace of God, I say to myself, “You gambled . The rest of the month can still be gamble-free” I used to think, “You gambled…you blew it…you said you would never gamble again…you just did…you are such a loser…what’s the use…you will never change.” …and so, I continue to gamble. I may not be able to pledge to a gamble-free life but, I’ve been down that road, and I don’t want to go down there again. So, I pledge to a gamble-free day in hopes of making it through another month gamble free! My prayer for us all!

[p]

Well its a gamble free day in February and i am glad our cat made this monthly pledge again.. i like it. A day at a time of course but yeah i agree.. if i look back i can say well i didnt gamble in those last months etc, it feels good..
Just for today for this month, sometimes just for this hour but yeah good to be gamble free and living free in february..

P

[velvet]

This is one of my favourite threads as I watch ODAAT’s turn into weeks and months. I want you to know how much joy it brings me to read the positivity in these posts.
I’m sure there are many, who maybe don’t write but are comforted by this thread.
thank you Cat for the smile on my face today.

[icandothis]

I did not gamble today, and I will not gamble tomorrow. I will get up in the morning and try to remember that this is the month of love. I will do everything I can to value myself, as I am learning to value my contributions to others. I will ask myself, “What contribution will I make if I choose to gamble?”

[cat438]

We always see the positive in other people and yet we don’t see the positive in ourselves. We have so many wonderful things that we could say about ourselves, but find it tough to say it. I am trying hard to change my thinking about myself. I don’t know where or who said it to me, but I can remember the saying “Self praise is no honour” and for some reason if I say positive things about myself (in my head) that thought always comes to me. It’s funny how we remember the negative things and have no problem repeating them, but the challenge is saying and believing the positives. I did not gamble today. I did something much more positive and spent the day with Carole as she donated Stem Cells to help save someone’s life. I am so thankful to have had that opportunity.

[mickdeno]

ODAAT is something i really bellieve in and something that we can all achieve. and each and every day we get through is an achievement to be proud of. Today i did the shopping for my ex, watched a film and played with the kids, ate a meal, wasnt late for anything and put my kids to bed. All small things but all things i struggled to do in past. Been a great february so far (despite the weather!) and lets hope the rest of it will be too. Good luck everyone!

[p]

Well no gambling for me on this day.. still breaking it down to just for today.. every morning i say this, just today i won’t gamble. No matter what occurs in my life. No matter what. I can do anything else, just not gamble.

P

[cat438]

I have not gambled so far in February and do not plan on gambling today. It is always one day at a time!!!

[p]

Not gambling today, this week, this month a day at a time.
Just for today i won’t gamble. My day is just beginning but i make this pledge to myself. Whatever comes my way today i can handle. I dont have to gamble. I want to have other things in my life. Things i let slide, things i forgot and things that just disappeared from view when gambling. I dont want to gamble today because i know if i put one dollar in a machine, the misery follows and i cannot stop no matter what i try. Done the same thing over and over for years now. Time to embrace life. Just for today is all i need do. Stay in the moment.

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[Anonymous]

You’re as constant as the Northern Star when it comes to keeping the monthly pledge thread going and leading others into gamble free months. I have had a disastrous gambling February, but I will give it my very best shot for the last week. I can’t wait for March.

[p]

Today i had a strong urge to gamble, today i made a decision that no matter how i feel or think today i dont need to do that
Today i need to go by my history. My history tells me that i tried to control my gambling for years on end and never could. it only got worse and always will regardless of the time off gambling.
Once i start i can’t stop so the point is not to start. If i start i set off a craving that i have no control over, i do have control over the occasional urge i get. I won’t start.
Just for today i will not gamble

P

[lizbeth4]

Cat, Thanks for this thread. I haven’t gambled this month although I did have some urges. I like being in a positive mood as it just puts everything into prospective for me. I have a problem with not giving myself enough self praise and I feel uncomfortable when someone praises me. That is something else that I am working on. I am thankful that I am not gambling and that I am treating my money with respect.

[cat438]

I cant believe it is the end of the month again. It seems to me the month flies past now. I do remember the times when a month was a long long long time. I would not be able to get through a month without gambling. I was focusing on the month rather than the day. I now focus on the day and it seems to help me get to the month faster. I want everyone to be proud of themselves for any gamble free day in February, because any gamble free day is a good day!!! Wishing everyone a wonderful gamble free day!!!

[p]

Well.. i just realised today is the last day of February.. i actually didnt even know until Vera just posted to me.. and i was excited to realize that hey, this month i haven’t gambled either.
I forgot about February being the shorter month.
Well each day this month i have made it through a day at a time like our cat here says. It is true, just each day but i still love the monthly pledge it really is something special too. Even if people dont have all the days free in a month you can still say you’ve had however many in February etc.. I remember someone telling me they would have a calendar and cross off the days gambled out of the calendar and could see the time they gambled less and less.. loved that idea because it doesnt highlight just the days gambled , it highlights all those days not gambled which is so important to focus also on those not just the others. Looking at the days we did make it gamble free, not just the ones we didnt.
Every effort is great, every day gamble free is great… its a process. However we get through is wonderful that we are trying for a better life.
If i dont gamble today i have made it through a month again.

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