Mondays Are Good

We returned home from Costco with a few minutes to spare before I was off to the Gamblers Anonymous meeting and my wife and children were off to church. Yes, once again I didn’t join them as I went to the GA meeting but I did mention that next week I would go with them as long as we went on Saturday as opposed to Sunday. This seemed to alleviate any concerns my daughter my have had.

The GA meeting was very good but the attendance has been off a bit over the past few weeks. I haven’t seen a new member in awhile and this is the nature of the addiction; people come people go and sometimes new members are hard to find. In this economy I can understand that even the casinos are having a difficult time. I know my previous employer has had to layoff some of its staff and that is unprecedented since they opened a number of years ago. Someone I worked closely with was part of this layoff and when I heard I was very surprised. However; in the spirit of recovery I never do know what the day will bring and yes, “things” happen”.

The meeting was very good and as always I felt much better after the meeting as opposed to before the meeting. This is not to be misunderstood because I was feeling good prior to the meeting but even better after the meeting. This is the best therapy I have ever encountered and there are meetings where gambling is never mentioned. Some of those meetings are the best because it is all about sharing experience, strength and hope. Through the program I gain experience, I get stronger and I have a whole ray of hope!!

After the meeting I returned home where we watched the Olympics as a family. The children are getting ready for their return to school on Wednesday. They have received notification of their teachers and for the first time in my daughter’s 6 year school career she has a male teacher. My son did not get assigned the teacher we would have like but was assigned another teacher who has a very good reputation. The children are looking forward to starting school and the transition should be great.

This morning my legs specifically my shins were hurting and I had a hard time getting myself to the gym. I did go to the gym because I have a “problem” with not going when I am supposed. I embarked on a 9 mile run but at the halfway point I thought I would be better served on the cycle. This was a good decision because the pain in my shins went away with the session on the cycle and I got in a good workout. While I was at the gym I spoke with a person I know who lives in our neighborhood and his son will be in my daughter’s class so my daughter will know at least one person which is a good thing.

It was on to work for the day and I am amazed as to how well things work out not only for me but in most cases. The situation I had a few weeks ago has turned completely positive and definitely for the best in every way possible. I have been thinking about the meeting I had on Saturday and a thought occurred to me early this morning on how I need to approach this. It is odd how things just pop seemingly out of nowhere and after thinking it through really do make sense. I doubt it was “out of nowhere” because in my life where “everything” happens for a reason these random thoughts also provide some clues at a Higher Power at work.

The day was very quiet at work and all of the projects I needed to tend to have been completed. Now I am just awaiting the arrival of my boss from his vacation so we can move forward. I had a good two weeks in his absence and as usual things will get even more interesting as we move forward.