Wow. Today is the last day of my 10th month of being free from gambling. Completely free.
What an amazing feeling. And the best part? It's SO much easier to be free from gambling now, as opposed to 10 short months ago.

AND it's New Year's Eve! I can't tell you what a rush it is knowing I'm going into 2013 as an ex-gambler. I don't usually look ahead (why tempt fate?) but it's hard to believe that in 2 months I'll have a YEAR under my belt! And I have every intention of not only hitting that milestone, but every intention of being careful too. It's become easy living as an ex-gambler, so it's important to remind myself from time to time that vigilance still matters. Matters? It's ESSENTIAL.

I'll tell you the truth, though. I still don't feel like I'm in the clear. Maybe I never will feel that way. But that's okay. It works for the 'vigilance' part anyway. I don't feel like a gambler either, though, and I LOVE that. The whole truth is I feel like a man who stood at the edge of an Abyss & looked over the lip. It was terrifying and yet now I stand back and wonder at how lucky I have become. I'm free.

You know, I didn't even think about this anniversary month. Not until today. I was thinking about how unbelievable it is that 2012 is almost over and how I would watch a New Year's Eve special when it just hit me that it's a month's end. I counted back (I STILL have to, don't get old kids) and after double checking, confirmed I'm ending my TENTH month! TENTH! Yeah, I'm psyched about that. But I'm also psyched that I'm no longer counting the days, or weeks, or even hours. I'm just living now.

THIS New Year's is also Thanksgiving for me. I'm so thankful to be here. Both for myself and simply for the hope that maybe my being here can inspire anyone else who harbors doubt they can be too. I made it, and I was a diehard addict, so I KNOW you can make it too. I'm proof. You will be too. Hell, maybe you already are. I sure hope so.

In the meantime, Happy New Year to everyone and all the best possibilities to you for 2013!

Today I will not gamble. Never again.

Congratulations on your success so far! May it last forever!

Thanks buddy, here's hoping!