It is often said that everything happens for a reason, whether we like it or not. Then there is the "everything happens for our good" and the "everybody that comes into your life comes into it for a purpose". I know better than to question the wisdom of the wise ones on these thoughts, but I have always thought, "What a load of crap!". In my not so years on the spherical planetary body called Earth, I have met quite several people, marked not for their numbers but as much as for their peculiarities.
Seth was a brother of a friend to a dear friend of mine. He was a weird one, but not the type I would have anything to do with on a regular day. I met him while visiting my dear friend, and since that was a regular occurrence that sometimes culminated in my sleeping over, I was forced to have interactions with this set fellow. Over time, one could say we developed a relationship of our own.
On a fateful day, he was on his phone doing something that seemed strange to me. Curious, I had to ask what. I received a crash course on sports gambling that day. The impulsive young man that I was, I immediately took a chance at it, and as you might probably imagine, it was a total failure. I lost my entire stake that day. I thought that was to be expected and went again the next day and the next and the next.
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It wasn't long before I was now teaching my tutor different ways to Sportsbet, and playing far more than he was. In the following months, he would decide to stop betting together as he had concluded that the house always wins regardless of odds, prediction skills, or outcome. But I didn't, I kept the torch burning, and I kept playing. Months turned into a year and year into years, and with each one that passed, I was getting more enmeshed and addicted to this dark world of the financial bottomless pit.
In those years, I would lose so many things as a result of what had come to be a sports betting addiction. The future was looking bleak. I was in a mess, a pit that I couldn't stop digging, but I couldn't get any help from the guy who gave me the shovel, for he had left me a long time ago. This was my reality until I met a Godsent in the form of the one I now call my partner. She would patiently let me burn through my addiction, but when she thought it was enough, she intervened.
"Babe, why are you doing this?" she asked. I knew what she meant because this was not the first time she would brooch the subject. What do you mean, I replied. "Your gambling is not helping us. It is taking money that we so dearly need from us and giving it away, not to mention the psychological and emotional effect it has on you whenever you lose; which is almost every time by the way". "What hurts babe is not just the money you are wasting even when we are starving, but the fact that when you have lost, you become emotionally unavailable for the rest of the day or even the week. Is that how you intend to run our family" she said.
At that moment, I knew something had to change, not because she just wanted me to stop gambling, but the fact that despite my many flaws, she still envisages having a future with me, a family, a forever after. If she wanted that with me after all my failings, I was going to do everything in my power to be better, to clean this mess, and do right by the woman who loves me more than life.
She is a good woman. Hold her tight and appreciate her. Not all women are like that. She really gave value to your life. And I am happy reading you turning a new leaf to your old ways.
Betting is so addictive and that’s why I don’t even want to in any way get close.
Trust me when I say you have made the right choice
It's gonna take a lot to stick with it. If you return to the vomit it's over. !PIZZA
Don't I know...
Wow, you are very lucky to have someone who is patient and kind, and who helps you to see your habits from another angle. Gambling is very addictive. Hopefully, you are able to stop and put your money and time into your relationship and the more rewarding aspects of your life. Thank you for sharing your creative nonfiction story in The Ink Well and for reading and commenting on the work of other community members.
I'm glad you are getting out of the mess. Have you asked for professional help as well?
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Not really, but I have got great friends supporting me all the way
My prayers are with you. Please do know that quitting was the right thing...
!PIZZA !ALIVE
@talon12! You Are Alive so I just staked 0.1 $ALIVE to your account on behalf of @wrestlingdesires. (2/10)
The tip has been paid for by the We Are Alive Tribe through the earnings on @alive.chat, feel free to swing by our daily chat any time you want.
Thanks..
Ladies like this are hard to come by and it's a good thing you didn't shrug off her thoughts and concerns.
From what I've heard and seen, betting is extremely addictive and it can take years before one would get rid of this addiction; just like any other addiction.
You are right. It's better not to get caught in it
That's right.
Have a great day.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@wrestlingdesires(3/15) tipped @talon12
mineopoly tipped talon12