I have not gambled for over 1 year and 9 months.

My Christmas cards are sent, my gifts are bought and just need wrapping. I'm sitting right now as I type this, drinking a big, steaming mug of Hot Chocolate and enjoying my evening. I have money in the bank, and my debt is coming down (slowly but steadily).

I sleep like a baby again. Laughter comes easily and I am thoroughly enjoying life again. Some days I'm overwhelmed by my good fortune of successfully walking away from such a vicious and brutal addiction. God knows it isn't easy but I, as a man, now know that it isn't impossible either.

I have no new insights in this journey to share with you. No ideas about fighting this fight that I haven't already blogged. But I wish to remind anyone reading this of the goal. And that it IS within your reach. How you get here is entirely in your hands, but THAT you can get here is something I can say with confidence.

YOU CAN.

I did, and I'm just an ordinary guy. I was the addict that couldn't stop gambling until I couldn't get my hands on any more money. I had to be flat broke before I could stop. And yet, I'm over 1 year and 9 months from my last bet. Believe the next sentence, because there is no greater truth. If I can do it, you can do it too.

It gets easier with each passing day, if you go cold turkey. And then somewhere down the road it stops getting 'easier' and instead just gets flat out amazing. You find you've finally come home. You're able to live again and gambling becomes just a memory. Something you see OTHER people do. The cravings diminish to almost nothing and are rarely felt.

Success is real. It's attainable. That's why I'm writing today as my Hot Chocolate slowly disappears... okay quickly disappears.

To remind YOU that you can do this. Your success is still waiting for you. It'll be here when you're ready. And when you reach out and grab it, you're going to love it!

Like I'm loving it. Right here. Right now.

Today I will not gamble. Never again.

I'm still here, reading and happy you are writing. I love success stories like yours! I hope you have a great and happy Christmas and new year!

Thank you for your kind words. Holiday wishes right back at ya!

I hope you had a good Christmas. I still read and look for inspiration in your blog. In my many attempts to start over again quitting, today was a GOOD first start by actually making a very hard effort to NOT stop at the casino. I kept driving by saying "I can do this." I went to the gym instead. I thought about writing every day to keep me accountable but I worry because of all the slips I have had. But now I think if I do this, I wont go wrong! Anyway, thanks for your continued posts.

Hey StuckinNV,
Thanks. I DID have a good Christmas, hope you did too. Congrats on winning the battle and going to the Gym instead of the Casino. You CAN do this, I know it. Each time you say 'no' to an urge, you get stronger. I believe in you and thanks for your kind words.