Hi Larry: Heartiest congratulations on your four months of gamble-free time. Or should I say four months of really living? It is a wonderful achievement.
Thank you for your post on my thread … I enjoy your thoughts and discoveries. I honestly had not thought of the point of no return in the context that you shared. But you’re right, there is a positive point of no return as well … one I may have reached in what seems like an endless journey.
Last Monday, when I felt like a spectacular failure, I had a moment of acceptance. Acceptance that this is my journey and acceptance that it is my willfulness that has made my journey so hard. So, now I go forward knowing that every decision I make has an impact on this journey. I choose daily whether it will be a good experience or a bad one. I got a great deal from your post a few days ago about patience with the one day at a time process. It is so very true. It’s the immature, need for immediate gratification of this compulsion that makes us so impatient for change. So, now I will try to slow down, to be grateful for each, single day that I don’t gamble.
My husband and I just had another argument about money. This has been going on for a few years. Gambling is not the cause of our financial stresses … being entrepreneurs is a risky proposition, especially these days. But had I not gambled (actually had WE not gambled), the stress would have been that much less.
One thing I have only recently acknowledged is that gambling is certainly not enjoyment for me. It is sickening and stressful and soul destroying. I hope never to forget that in the frenzy of urges.
Keep going on path … you’ve certainly turned out to be a great leader on this forum.
All the best.
RG This moment is all we really have. Be happy in it.