Ok, one of the biggest hooks of these games is the progression of our characters. In this process there is no level 60 no end game leet weapon, but there is progress. As such, writing our Real Life Character profile and reporting on their progress, could mimic one of the behaviors of our gaming. Write your REAL self up for a change. And doggone it, when you gain a level, share it with us. Take joy in the process of leveling up yourself. Heck, there is only one life in this reality. No continues or do overs. Oh and p.s. you can't powerlevel through this, forcing it just takes the joy out of it. I bolded this. Liz W.
Edited by: SnowWhite760 at: 11/26/06 13:39
I edited this for typos. dan1 8/17/2013
Hello my name is Jason, Attributes
I read rather quickly
I have a love for writing
Music inspires me in ways I don't realize for days afterwords.
I can dedicate myself to one thing and see it through to the end. A Through the next few weeks, I'm going to try and list things that either enhance my life or don't. A Share struggles with you and try to give you a general report on all oCOCKf them. Right now the main question is, What activities can I engage in that enrich my life?
and Do they take in my stated attributes. Please share your avatar as well, maybe we can all find activities that enrich our Real Lives and Level them up to the point that pixels become just that.
Maybe you don't feel like going through all of that character makeup, who writes that Backstory crap, anyways :P Ok, then what have you done to enrich your life in the last 8 hours. Tell us, we want to celebrate that which brings our REAL life closer to us.
In the last 6 hours I have attended the OLGA meeting for the first time and met some very neat people, flawed and beautiful, just like me. I feel happy and real.
I come to the boards, read the struggles of others and share what has worked for me, and others I know.
I also look for tools, that others have used in their lives, that I can use in mine. This progress report is a great idea!
I am now going to spend time with my family.
Liz Woolley
*DING!*
I have started reading again, something I haven't done for many years.
Ok, it's just one thing but it's a start :
Ron
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
I'm a 7th-level high school English teacher with high attributes in compassion and communication but a weakness for procrastination. Last weekend, instead of playing games, I picked up my living room, saw Walk the Line (a great movie about addiction with d*mn fine music), watched some past and present students play their last football game of the season, caught Ira Glass (producer of This American Life on NPR) at the Lisner Auditorium in Washington, DC, and had a conversation with my wife.
Looking to join OLGA as a member. Game-free for 15 days.
Edited by: aelwyn1964 at: 11/22/05 18:15
Go Aelwynn!
This week I have had a bit of a backslide. Have been trying to give reports about what I was doing, but the last few days I did nothing but work and game. One good thing came of the week though, have cancelled my WoW account and will go sober on December 11.
p.s. First hand learned that dancing around this mentally doesn't help at all, you still see whatever it is that's driving you to this in the mirror every morning. It's scary sometimes, but not impossible.
Well, you know, its not the falling off the wagon that's really hard, its the loss of pride, that "time clean" garbage, that makes it hard for some to get back on the wagon.
And its all nonsense.
If you are an addict, like me, there is only today. TODAY I shall not game. Yesterday is over, there is no need for pride or contempt. I am only in control of today, this minute, right now.
And so are you.
We have all been where you are, some of us are where you are right now, no one here is perfect. It is determination, not pride, that is our greatest ally in this fight.
I have confidence in you. Good luck.
Leveling in Real Life
Steven King has been putting me to sleep rather efficiently. Reading has definitly filled that gap between my head hitting the pillow and restfull sleep. Thank god !
You may want to read the posts on relapsing - p198.ezboard.com/folgafrm24.showMessage?topicID=23.topic
Feel free to share your thoughts.
Liz
Liz Woolley
Now game-free for a month. It feels good, folks. I've discovered a couple of new addictions, though, but being aware of it makes it easier to limit myself.
Strugglin, you might be interested in this, since you like writing: www.zoetrope.com
It's an on-line bulletin board for writers to get feedback on their writing. You review five stories, then get the chance to submit one for review. Writers helping writers. Pretty cool.
My other new addiction is OLGA, but it's a much healthier one that playing games for 6 hours in a row.
I think it is better to be addicted to something that helps you imporove your real life, instead of running away from it.
Liz Woolley
Gonna check out that zoetrope Aelwyn! btw, WELCOME!
Well it's been 3 days and this is the first time I've turned on the main computer in my house. I quit the guild and said goodbye to all friends on there. It's strange, sleeping has been easier and I find that I am speaking more confidently of all things. *shrug* Been using a list that was made at the last meeting. BTW if you are reading this and have time on Thursdays, WE WANT YOU! www.recoverychat.com in the OLGA room. Question for all present, do those of you on the wagon think that console rpg's are a no no? I'm not sure, but I have felt that they have and end...not sure if this is a relapse waiting to happen or not. As of now, I'm focus on doing things that are fun for me and that don't have anything to do with Video Games. However, this is a question that will come up and I wanted to get feedback on it.
At the very least: I AM FREE! gonna be silly for a while saying that.
sorry all, wanted to write a poem tonight, and this ended up coming out, it's not really anything but an expression of what it would feel like if I was in a relationship with someone, and the one addicted was not me. Take care all, this is really just posted to air it out.
Addiction
The photons flow carreses
my lover's tresses
Once again I grasp
her necklace clasp
Handle her smooth skin
from shoulder to shin
Breathe towards her ear
Promises I can't share
Her pulse quickens
her skin glistens
A small sigh escapes
I eagerly await at zion
for some sign of consumation
aEUoeJust one more level sweetheartaEU
drops into my heart.
Every nerve quivers
passion falling in slivers.
Victory has been lost again
defeated before it began.
Orcs and goblins are trouncing
Love and passion announcing
their withdrawal.
Beloved of my heart,
I hope everquest soothes you.
Comforts you when the day is long.
When you next look upon me,
I will be gone.
Great news Strugglin, I know the first couple days after quitting is extremely difficult. As far as console games, I guess it all depends on the person. I know I've seen Medea mention which I share the same feelings that we really cannot play something part-time regardless of how simplistic the game is. Sure I was able to do better in school when I played nothing but strategy games which were easier to put down yet I still played 6+ hours a day. If you play a console game, you may find out every single little hidden area etc. and play it too much.
I guess what you need to ask yourself is, can you be doing something more productive with your time? Instead of playing a console game which acts as a form of escapism, why not work out more try and meet new friends etc., read a good book.
I personally wouldn't go to console games as they would be almost as destructive as online games, *almost*. In the end I looked back on what I've done with my life the past 10 years and regardless of what type of game I'm playing, it's been almost wasted. A good buddy of mine told me "You just need to get out more."
The final choice is up to you my friend.
Hi there,
We missed you. Just chatted with Liz. Great to see you back. A heartbreaking poem. Says more than all my blogg entries put together. Mind if I cite it?
Ok so I did play some PS2. (I am home from work with a terrible cold) I was trembling when I choose "new game". What happened? I played a couple of hours and then I was bored.......really honestly bored. Amazing!
More poems please
kind regards,
Helene
I love your poem, Jay.
Can I post in on the EQ Widows message board?
Looking forward to seeing you at the meeting, Thursday night - www.recoverychat.com OLGA room 9:30 eastern time.
Liz
Liz Woolley
Playing console games: I think it varies, depending on your flavor of addiction. Some people say they can play MMORPGs casually. Whatever. Others may not be able to handle MMORPGs, but can do console games without getting addicted. You've got to figure out what works for you. When you play, do you lose track of time? Do you stop to answer the phone, take the dog out, or have a conversation with a roommate, or do you ignore those things in favor of the game? Do you play past the point where your hands, bladder, butt, and eyes hurt?
I can't even touch Mindsweeper (sic) without getting compulsive. I've decided that anything that is a game and has pixels is off-limits. But that's me. For some people, one glass of wine a day is what they can handle. For others, one drink leads to twenty, so they have to avoid any alcohol at all.
I wonder if the Internet is going to turn us all into addicts. Just imagine every human need, provided instantly--excitement, escape, titillation, affection, power--anything you want, you can get a simulation of, within minutes (depending on download speed). In the future, how many millions of people are going to be glued to their screens for a fix?
Okay, I gotta stop now. I'm scaring myself.
Aw geez, Ael, we are halfway there. A
Hi Jay,
As you work on your life, peel off the layers, new layers will appear. Things you hadn't noticed before. Under each layer is a fresth new one. Not as thick or as noticable as the first ones, but still there.
Life is a growing process. If we become stagnant, we will die or become polluted or not look very good or be of little use to anyone, other than just sitting there, much like stagnant water. As you stir your life up, and bring in new experiences, you will become fresh, like a running stream, bubbling down your pathway of life, offering drink to those who thirst, becoming vibrant and clear, knowing what your purpose is in life.
Thanks for being here and posting. You offer hope.
Liz
Liz Woolley
Thank ye Liz *hug* A You guys offer the same here. The report for today is gonna be pretty nice. A It's strange, I'm sitting here in front of my computer A HAPPY THAT I JUST PAYED ALL MY COCKS! A LOL I know that is not a standard version of joy, but 2 things stood out for me. A 1. A WoW was not one of the monetary concerns this month :P
2. A I wasn't rushing to pay them off so I could get back to more "important* things. A muhahahahahahahahahahah A
That's a great feeling, Strugglin
I was wondering why things like what you mention are so important to recovery from a gaming addiction, or any other kind of addiction I suppose (and it isn't strange at all). One of the things I am happiest about today is the fact that it is 11:30pm and I'm about to go to sleep. When I obsessively play computer games, I don't sleep until 3 or 4am often, pushing my wake-up time to about noon or so, killing the next day before it even starts. The gaming is not isolated, but rather sets off a rather destructive chain of events, harming my life in small ways that add up. Now that I'm going to sleep at a NORMAL time, and not, as you put it, rushing to get back to more important things, I feel like something will blossom from here on out; that this small return to normalcy is practically just the beginning and symbolically represents a return to something calmer, more peaceful, with the potential for a healthier happiness than what gaming makes us accustomed to. Just as excessive gaming harmed our lives with small dagger cuts, it is the small good moments that will help get us where we want to be.
-Andrew
Well spoken, Andrew.
When our minds and bodies are attuned to the natural rhythm of the world around us, we attain a level of balance and serenity which pervades our daily lives.
Interrupting that balance with erratic sleep cycles, poor diet, sitting in one place for countless hours staring at unnatural light sources (pixels), etc., wreaks havoc on our bodies and minds. Despite how uncomfortable that is at first, our bodies and minds adjust to this, superficially, while underneath, the fatigue resulting from our sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle begins to affect our physical state, then our mental and emotional state until we reach the point where we wonder how our lives turned to crap without our noticing.
The change is gradual, but it is none the less, inevitable.
I encourage people that if they really want to stop gaming, that they should consider where their lives will be in a year, five years, 10 years, if they continue on their course of gaming, gaming, gaming to the exclusion of real life activities. Often pain is a great motivator.
Ron
"Get a Life!"
Ron Jaffe AKA Diggo McDiggity
OLGA Admin and Member since 2001
eMail: ronjaffe@cfl.rr.com
Edited by: Diggo McDiggity at: 12/22/05 8:19
Co-Founder of OLGA and member since 2002
I'm now game-free 52 days. And speaking of addictions, I made some killer chocolate chocolate chocolate cookies yesterday. Another reason not to play: it's hard to check the oven if you're on a raid!
Stan
Sweetness that is great news.
This is also a great thread. I read it often because it's filled with motivators and wisdom and joy.
I went to my therapist and he said I am well on my way to recovery (i.e normalcy). I told him I wouldn't be if it weren't for OLGA too.
Thanks all of you
Helene
**** MY ASS
Happy New Years.
Woo hoo! For all of you! Keep it up!
Liz
Liz Woolley
Here's a fun alternative to gaming: learn something you have never done before. Last Friday, at age 41, I strapped on ice skates for the first time in my life. As I wobbled around the rink, desperately grabbing the wall every few feet, a guy hanging out around the side said, "Hans Brinker, I presume." I told him and his companion it was my first time. Every time I made it around the rink, they cheered, and his friend told me I was her hero when I stopped after an hour. It was difficult, frustrating, cold, and painful (you can guess where). Eight-year-olds were speeding around me. I'm not going to make the Olympics, but I did get to the point where I could go for about twenty feet and steer around obstacles. I just kept telling myself, this is good for me. Baby steps.
I also heard this very interesting program, a rebroadcast of the Kojo Nnamdi Show, which talks about making small changes in your life that can eventually have big consequences. I found it very thought-provoking and helpful.
After you click on the link, scroll down to 13:24 Kaizen: Feng Shui for the Brain.
wamu.org/programs/kn/05/03/08.php
The book is One Small Step Can Change Your Life.
www.amazon.com/exec/obido...LW81EN6ZFS
On TV, I saw this software that is actually a "voice coach" for singing. I thought it looked interesting, but I was not able to watch it long enough to get the information. I always wanted to sing better.
Liz Woolley
Liz!!! Hahahahaha. That is so funny that you said that. I saw the same commercial and REALLY wanted to buy it. I also missed the information. I can't sing well, but would love to be able to. I can carry a tune, but I'm not good enough for people to listen to me, lol.
If you find anything out, let me know. We can take our lessons together and compare notes.
Brad
Strugglin,
Check out this link:
www.recoverynation.com/ge...bw007.html
Talks about the reasons why addicts have the problems you're having this week. It helped me out tremendously.
Cheers,
Brad
a cheap methadone-esque substitute for that gratification? A Are we lying to ourselves again? No, There is an ultimate purpose in the idea of self improvement through God. A It's not tied to the self, it's tied into helping others and casting away the false needs of our tired, hurt little souls. A Neat.
My progress thus far has been slightly erratic but holding true to recovery thus far.I haven't gamed for almost two weeks. I have admitted that I have an addiction in gaming and that it is a danger to me. That is a huge step for me. I have my two year old who now has a daily schedule that doesn't revolve around gaming time at all. Ding! I have reinitiated my counseling sessions again and all the appointments that I neglected before. I have poured my heart out to my wife and let her know how badly I feel about what has happened due to my addiction and that I have come to my senses. I am also seeking real life meetings to help me deal with addiction as a whole. I also am earnestly seeking a job and looking forward to working again. I asked my wife out to a dance for tomorrow night and pray she accepts. I have not asked her out in quite a few years. I have also began to write poetry again and drawing. Also things I have not done since the throes of addiction have begun. In short I feel truly blessed for this website and that there was enough out there to tune me in to the fact that I was dealing with an addiction and not just something off in my brain. With that said thank you and please keep up the wonderful work ya'll are doing.
Quote:I asked my wife out to a dance for tomorrow night and pray she accepts.
Beautiful, I hope it works out.
Also: by the decision to stop gaming, you have probably done the single most important thing in the life of your daughter so far. Take time to realize this and congratulate yourself, you are her hero, and I do not mean this with even a drop of irony.
Heroes are not people who do what they do because it is easy for them, on the contrary:
A Hero is a person who faces an insurmountable obstacle and succeeds.
Keep up the hero business
"Live without dead time" Guy Debord
Wow Wonderer31, thank you for that link to the article about immediate gratification. That's exactly the next piece of the puzzle (piece of information) I needed at this moment. (careful, or you'll make me believe in fate )I always was aware that I had an immediate gratification problem and that article helped it to make more sense, and help me understand better.
"The seeking of immediate gratification begins in infancy and should transition to a more mature, delayed-gratification pattern by late adolescence. When this transition does not take place, it is most often a result of either abuse or parental neglect. The most common reasons for emotionally stunted development are extremely controlling parent(s); hyper-religiosity; severe lack of nurturing; and physical, sexual or emotional abuse. In such situations, the child is not exposed to the more advanced decision-making processes that come with necessary developmental elements like being allowed to make mistakes or being encouraged to take risks."
I can identify with that very well. I was sexually and physically and emotionally abused, as well as having a severe lack of nuturing while growing up.
I do live life on a day-to-day basis, with no regard for tomorrow. My addictions include impulsive buying, smoking cigarettes, gaming, porn/sexual addiction, overeating/sugar/caffeine, and probably many others. I even get addicted to self help.
I woke up this morning deciding that things would be different - I was not gonna smoke, game, get on the computer, watch TV, eat excessively or unhealthy, or drink caffeine/sugar drinks. Instead I was gonna excercise, lift weights, clean the house, brush my cats and spend time with them. (they always get neglected as well, as they watch me shut the door to the computer room) I went to brush the cats first and could not find the brush anywhere, and next thing I know I caved. I lit a cigarette, threw some pizza and apple pie in the oven, poured me a glass of coke and turned on the computer. Such is the life of instant gratification. Wish me better luck next time. (More signs of instant gratification. I was gonna quit everything instantly? Not likely. Shouldn't set my goals so high and create a certainty of failure, this will truly be difficult.)
Edited by: InSomeNiak at: 2/10/06 11:13
thank you for the honesty, at times it is more uplifting, than the most baffling good news
putting an apple pie into the oven and turning on the computer brings back memories - I have been living on black tea and frozen pie for all too long...
I guess at this time I will rather wish your cats good luck
You have OLGAnon, they have noone but you.
Am a cat lover too, we have 2
"Live without dead time" Guy Debord
Edited by: calm force at: 2/10/06 11:25
Well unfortunately my wife has deigned to not accept any offerings of reconciliation at this point but the thing that hurts me the most is my baby girl is the one paying the price the most. I told my wife that our baby was suffering and missed her and would she like to see her this weekend since she had the house where she was staying all to herself this weekend.I said she could get some good one on one time with our daughter. She declined. That almost killed me and my support group and I are all outraged over it. she claims to love our baby more than life itself but she won't step up. No matter what our personal problems may be our baby should not suffer for it. I am now to the point ( thank god) that I have written off reconciliation and am now going to make great powerleveling strides to make sure my daughter is totally happy and content with me and to manage my finances in a manner which is mature and responsible. I am now going to let this slow me down in the slightest I am going to take it and turn it into more strength for my daughter and our future together. I am sure at this point she's not going to contest the divorce or make any moves of her rights of her daughter. That is fine with me. I am totally happy with what I am doing at this point and almost made it to the meeting today but it didn't quite work out right. I have a firm guarantee from my friend who is totally awesome that no matter what we have to do tomorrow we will make sure I'm at a meeting and that I can go to the dance anyway . Thank you for the kind words about the Knight to my daughter cause that meant a lot to me and that is totally what I want to be to her. I may have failed her mother for some years but I am never going to fail her. If it takes me going to 4 meetings a day so be it. Thank you for letting me share this I feel like a new man who is totally thankful for the insights within these boards. I am now sure I will make it through no matter what and that anything else that happens is my higher power's will. One of the biggest things that is helping me at this point is trolling these boards.
Keep Going Law! Every time I think there is no more reason to keep up and posting, along comes a story like yours and it lights the old fire back up. A Thank you man, you just helped me level
Lawthorn, what I will now write, might make you cry, and if it does, it will be good tears. You wrote:Quote:I told my wife that our baby was suffering and missed her and would she like to see her this weekend since she had the house where she was staying all to herself this weekend.I said she could get some good one on one time with our daughter. She declined. That almost killed me and my support group and I are all outraged over it. she claims to love our baby more than life itself but she won't step up. Do you realize your wife is doing exactly what you have been doing for the last years. Life is like this. It keeps hitting us with some things till we understand. You absolutely need to forgive your wife in your heart, no matter how outraged you first are by her behaviour. No matter how she behaves toward you and your daughter now.
She may be acting like this out of spite and defiance - probably not even consciously - to show you a bit what you had done to her.
Keep up the knight business. The first thing a knight needs is a free and open heart, as how can a knight be corageous and valiant, when his heart is occupied by other emotions. Let them go. The best feeling you can have towards your wife about this, right now is a sad but at the same time honest "I understand".
As you really do understand now. You feel like she felt for such a long time.
Let the feelings of outrage go, they do neither of you good. And remember, your daughter feels and knows anything that is happening in her little soul. What will help her most right now, is your own total honesty to yourself. As well as you acting on it.
Let us know how it is working out, my heart prays for you.
Maxim
"Live without dead time" Guy Debord
Strugglin, my intuition about your words:
Wanting to control comes from lack of trust.
Lack of trust comes from fear.
The question is what do do with it when you find it.
"Live without dead time" Guy Debord
What do we really control in our lives? If we are going to sit down and pay our bills or not. That is about it, as far as I can tell.
The less control I take, the more interesting my real life gets. I just let it happen, and see what new adventures come next.
Liz
Liz Woolley
Hey there, it's good to meet you all.
First, the bad? Okay, here's the short version:
-got majorly addicted to WoW
-lied to my boyfriend for a few months about my gaming habits
-snuck around, playing whenever I could
-finally lost sight of reality and spent my mornings pretending to go to work, but actually playing WoW on my laptop in my car, then sneaking back into the apartment to play WoW all day long after he'd gone to work
-inevitably lost my job, didn't care. it just meant more time to play. bills were a notion that I'd long forgotten. after all, I had tons of gold and maxed-out professions.
-kept lying up until it was absolutely impossible, and the boyfriend confronted me about it. finally the truth came out.
-for some insane reason, he didn't leave me. he told me to uninstall the game and never play it again... and although i was heartbroken, i agreed.
-i had to cut off a lot of my hair myself, because it had become matted in places... yes, i'd become that addicted. sick, huh?
SO. you would think after all the hell I put myself through with that game, that I'd never go back to it, right?
Well, I did.
It started with an innocent link on download.com. I was looking up anti-spyware programs and such, and saw a link for a free MMORPG... I don't even remember what it was called, but it was crap. I didn't see the harm in checking it out- I figured nothing was as good as WoW, so how could I get addicted??
I played it for a couple hours and decided it sucked royally. Then somewhere, some message board or something, someone posted about this game, saying that it was awful, and if one wanted to get into a no-monthly-fee game, they should get Guild Wars.
I should have seen it coming then, and maybe I did... but I got it anyway. I played it for a month or so, then started getting antsy... I found myself on thottbot, worldofwarcraft.com, alla... Before I knew it, I was a junkie again.
-I went to Target all of a sudden and bought WoW (I'd destroyed my CDs)
-I drove home as fast as I could and installed it, along with all of my favorite add-ons.
-After sitting impatiently for what felt like ages, it finally was done installing.
-*login*.... *bliss*
-I played for about 2 months... then finally something clicked. Nobody told me to stop, nothing horrible happened this time. Yes, I played it every chance I got. Yes, I still skipped work every now and then. Yes, I forgot to pay bills.
But finally, real life has kicked in. I've already made a very big step-- I've put my account up for sale on eBay-- all 14 characters, and the CDs.
It's amazing what I've been missing.
Yes, I find myself still a bit addicted. I still sometimes think of real life in terms of XP, quests, and levels, I admit it.
I've done some incredibly stupid stuff, but I believe that getting rid of it and my characters (that was the tricky part, I never got rid of my account the first time), and coming here is one of the smartest things I've done in a long time.
If anybody would like to talk with me about this or about your progress please feel free to email me.
rachynymph at gmail dot com
Edited by: rachelisfree at: 8/15/06 2:41
On the topic of "Progress Report" I did not do very well yesterday. So far today I am doing well, and will hope to keep that up for the rest of the day and evening. Regards to all of you, Percy :)
As Bruce likes to say ... today is the only day that matters Percy ... Be well Max
Thanks, Max, or Shiva, or perhaps both, or perhaps both are the same person! Anyway, thanks, the day continues good. Regards, Percy 8)
I most definitely hope so... ;) :D
Shiva, I chuckled. 8) Percy
Notice: This board has been rendered invisible to visitors, nonmembers, and those with fewer than 15 posts (newbies). The regular member forums have been changed to post-free status, so this is the only "perk" for those who post regularly. Most people who reach 15 posts have already hit member status and therefore can get here... :|
Leveling in Real Life
So the member boards are open to anyone now? I thought one of the points of all the troll-bashing was to keep them from sneaking into the member boards. I'm confused, but then I'm usually confused, so what else is new?
"Small service is true service while it lasts. Of humblest friends, bright creature! scorn not one
The daisy, by the shadow that it casts,
Protects the lingering dewdrop from the sun." -------William Wordsworth
A good question. In fact members boards USED to be accessible to anyone with X number of posts, whether or not they were members. This caused some problems when a pair of trolls spammed their way in. At the time I raised the post limit for Newbies to 100 posts. Of course, someone with 75 posts is not a one-star Newbie. So I adjusted the forum controls to reflect this. Forum veterans get two stars, Members get three. This post-based access has been removed from the entire members section. ONLY members can see them, or post in them. Those of you who aren't members, it should not be a surprise to you that there is a members-only section. No one can spam their way into the members section now. This is therefore the ONLY forum which is accessible to those who acquire "Forum Veteran" status at 15 posts, but who are not Members. Its a small reward for tenacity, and allows a partial level of privacy which some people might prefer. Needless to say, most people who want to post their stories might be better off doing it in the more private members section. Some might want it here, though, and that's fine.
Leveling in Real Life
I am just checking in to say hello as it has been awhile since I've been around. I've been up and down with my efforts to eliminate gaming and am in a good space now, trying to journal regularly and having a mentor read what I write. I've not played since the evening of July 1 and am feeling good about that, getting used to the self I am without gaming. My present strategy is to go easy on myself and not push myself to accomplish more, and just not get into gaming. I am feeling good, peaceful, not guilty, and rested with no little aches and pains which come from sitting at the computer for too long a time. Now I see that I want to let the new me develop and it will take time and patience to learn who that is! I'm sending good vibes to people who like myself are struggling and to the good people who offer support and encouragement. Regards, Percy :D