Really regretted my gambling over the weekend

This past weekend I took a last minute trip to New York to celebrate MCA Day. As I drove up I realized that another band I liked was playing the night before so I went into Manhattan to check that out as well. Anyway, the next day was amazing, so many people showed up to celebrate the life of Adam Yauch. Chuck D from Public Enemy even did a few songs and spoke to the crowd while DJ Hurricane manned the turntables. I can't say how great it was to experience it.

But since being home and going through my old music I realized that the Beastie Boys played shows near me that I didn't attend countless times. I remember actually leaving Lollapalooza before they came on because I needed to get to Atlantic City to gamble. At the time I was thrilled because I won thousands of dollars but now I'd kill to have the memories of that show. I wish that I hadn't lived a life that wouldn't let me buy a concert ticket because I needed that money to gamble.

I should note that I did get to see them twice, once in 1987 on their Licence to Ill tour then about five years later in their Check Your Heasd tour. The experiences and memories of those shows will always be with me but I could have so many more of those great memories...

So if you're still gambling and are chasing losses heed my warning - even if you win money you'll be losing part of your life. You'll never get another shot at these days and you'll always regret wasting them. Maybe that person you want to see in concert won't be around in a couple years. Maybe your team is winning a championship and will never win another in your lifetime. Maybe that trip you've always wanted to go on with your friend won't be possible if he gets married and has a kid. It's bad enough gambling is taking your money, it's robbing you of epically important moment of your life that can't be replaced.

On a positive note I did just get tickets to see Van Morrison next month. He's the last guy on my bucket list of people I want to see in concert. I got 10th row center seats for $338 a pop but I can affor it because I don't gamble.

Buster I can only agree with your sentiments and analysis in this sobering post. The loss of money is bad enough but your very right about wasted time and missed opportunities.
Glad to here you had a good time seeing some of your favourite bands.
I saw Van Morrison way back in 1983 in Manchester when I was doing my nurse training, as I recall the ticket cost about £7!

Funny, your thread title made me think you had relapsed....now I see it was just a memory of past history. ... reminds me of what they call "click bait" on Yahoo fake news.....

As to gambling preventing one from life's quality moments, I can think back to the days when I played poker regularly in brick and mortar casinos.....There were always the usual players or regulars, as we were called. You could start playing poker in the morning, leave in the afternoon, and return late at night and most of them would still be there....some of them that you saw there when you got there in the morning had been there all night....Well, sometimes when some of these regulars had to leave the poker game for some family function, even if it was Thanksgiving or Christmas, they really seemed to regret and resent having to leave, as though the family get together was a bothersome nuisance or unpleasant task or chore which interrupted their preferred pastime.........like they couldn't wait to get back to the game.....people who are caught up in gambling like this are in another world, another reality....they don't see that they are not only losing their money, but also precious times of their lives.
Heck, how many times in the past have we been in the company of family or friends physically, but our minds are occupied with the thoughts of gambling?

buster1969, I thought for a moment you let us down thank goodness it is just an April fool joke. I am so glad you had a good time and when money and time are no longer an issue, we could pretty much enjoy many good things and experiences in life.

Yesterday my other half and I was invited to a 5 day cruise to the Caribbean with some business associates but let it go in favor of spending 2 weeks in NC in the fall. I felt it is best not to put ourselves in harm way as the casino seem to be the great attraction in this type of cruise and they even send us some free play years ago.

I apologize for the title of the thread, it was not meant to be misleading. If it can be changed I'd be glad to do it.

And thanks for saying that if I gambled it would let people down rainbowcolor. Sometimes it's good to be reminded that we're accountable to others and not just ourselves.

You are welcome buster1969

It's not nice to scare your forum mod like that Buster ....

But your post is spot on as usual . I cringe inside when I think of all the life experiences I passed over because it was so much more "important" that I be in the casino losing my paycheck .

Great points raised Buster

Just to point out also that 'regret' is not a good thing - we should just move on.

betterchange wrote:Just to point out also that 'regret' is not a good thing - we should just move on.

I agree completely and I rarely dwell on things but it just sprung into my mind. It's not all bad though, it just reinforces that I made the right choice to quit and that I never have to miss out due to gambling again.