magicalmerlinmark Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Hey Everybody, I did the detox challenge last year. I accomplished over 4 months of game free lifestyle. It was damn tough. Since then I've been on and off games for the last 6 months. The good news is, even when playing video games, I rarely binge play like I used to. I know it isn't fulfilling, it no longer has the same appeal to me anymore. I feel like re-starting the challenge for myself today. Giving time and emphasis to reclaiming my own life, behaviour and actions. I look forward to sharing this journey with you all! Game Free days: 0 Feelings: Excitement, Anxiety, determined and a little overwhelmed Tasks for the day: Continue working on my business plan, get outside for a walk, phonecalling some friends. Much love, Mark. P.s. I'm a herbalist hence the post title 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thehondasc00py Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 (edited) Yoyo What's it like being a herbalist? Sounds interesting Edited February 15, 2018 by thehondasc00py Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cam Adair Posted February 15, 2018 Share Posted February 15, 2018 Welcome back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 On 15/02/2018 at 1:00 PM, thehondasc00py said: Yoyo What's it like being a herbalist? Sounds interesting It's taken me about 18 months of playing with herbs to finally start calling myself a herbalist - I'm discovering it really is a lifetime occupation. There are so many plants in our abundant world that there's a little something for everyone and I find it's a nice reason to get people together and share knowledge. I spend my days drinking of lot of tea, making potions, lotions, creams and other herbal goodies. Throw in the psychadelic part to plant medicine and I can get full druid sometimes haha. I also decided last year to start farming my own medicinal herbs at an organic farm. Without the farm part, I have no garden and I would most likely spend my Summers indoors. Now I have a great opportunity to play with the plants outside ^_^ Before I took this path, I was a video games tester, door to door salesman, dishwasher...odd jobs that very few people can be (and are) passionate about. I'm super grateful to have found my way back to the Earth. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted February 20, 2018 Author Share Posted February 20, 2018 These last few days have been challenging. I'm learning to accept my ugly parts, trying t I'm currently studying how to play DnD, I think it has a really interesting social side to it which will help me fix some of what's missing in my own life with that regard. Friendship and fantasy go well together! Game Free Days: 5 Feelings: Determined, overwhelmed and pretty cheerful. I'm trying to be aware of my emotions when I'm eating, too often do I stuff myself seeking to calm my mind. Tasks for the day: Sing, dance and enjoy my work. Good luck to everyone else in their own struggles and successes, M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regular Robert Posted February 20, 2018 Share Posted February 20, 2018 What kind of char do you play? I think you would make an awesome Shaman, obviously ( :) )! Havin' all the herbs to keep the group clean and and healthy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted February 25, 2018 Author Share Posted February 25, 2018 Wood Elf Druid called Ocimum Sanctum ^_^ I'm all about them 'erbs. The last 5 days have been very fulfilling for me. I gave 5 workshops in 7 days and I still have one more to go. Every workshop I was able to connect with my audience and pass on some knowledge. I've rediscovered one of my old hobbies, painting warhammer miniatures. Throw in daily exercise and meditation and Iife is pretty grand! Game Free Days: 10 Feelings: Content, chill and curious Tasks for the evening: Take a herbal bath and smoke a joint :D Good luck to everybody else in this no-gaming community! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 I've made my first attempts at living by a schedule using Trello to track it. It's an interesting experiment! I really do see the benefits of a little structure in your life. I've had no real desire to play any video games. It's almost fading to the back of my memory. Game Free Days: 14 Tasks for the evening: Breathing exercises, make a nourishing herbal infusion for tomorrow and bed. Goooooooooood luck everybody! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted March 8, 2018 Author Share Posted March 8, 2018 Trello is working well. I'm slowly adapting my expectations on how to treat myself. My first attempt at a daily schedule was wwwwwwwwwwway too hard on myself. I'm learning to treat myself more kindly (and this includes free time and less work time) and that's working a lot better. I'm back in Montreal now (where I live) after a 6 week stay in England (where my family lives). Being back is always difficult for me, the place is never tidy, I have all of these grand expectations about when I arrive. They nearly always fall flat. I mentally lowered my expectations this time, it's working out a lot better. The place is a mess and yes it's a little overwhelming but I expected it this time! Staying motivated now I'm back in my home setting is going to be the next challenge for me and my game free life. I welcome the challenge and rise to the occasion. Game Free Days: 18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted March 12, 2018 Author Share Posted March 12, 2018 I'm back in Montreal and having a great time. I've linked my own use of smoking pot to some serious anxiety. So I'm stepping back and taking a break today and getting my life on track just a little bit more. Other than that everything is going well and the sun is shining. GFDays: 22 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bugg Posted March 12, 2018 Share Posted March 12, 2018 On 2/20/2018 at 3:51 PM, magicalmerlinmark said: It's taken me about 18 months of playing with herbs to finally start calling myself a herbalist - I'm discovering it really is a lifetime occupation. There are so many plants in our abundant world that there's a little something for everyone and I find it's a nice reason to get people together and share knowledge. I spend my days drinking of lot of tea, making potions, lotions, creams and other herbal goodies. Throw in the psychadelic part to plant medicine and I can get full druid sometimes haha. I also decided last year to start farming my own medicinal herbs at an organic farm. Without the farm part, I have no garden and I would most likely spend my Summers indoors. Now I have a great opportunity to play with the plants outside ^_^ Before I took this path, I was a video games tester, door to door salesman, dishwasher...odd jobs that very few people can be (and are) passionate about. I'm super grateful to have found my way back to the Earth. Sounds like heaven! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted March 20, 2018 Author Share Posted March 20, 2018 On 3/12/2018 at 5:18 PM, Bugg said: Sounds like heaven! It's getting that way - It's still filled with a lot of worries and insecurities for the future though this is a life I have set deliberate intentions for and now they're coming true. Slowly and surely I'm designing a life that I want to live, rather than a life that is just forced upon me. It's been 2 weeks since I'm back home in Montreal. It's been a bit of a re-adjustment learning to live with my partner and house mates again. All in all though I am painting, drawing and soon to start DMing for Dungeons & Dragons...my creative side of life is learning to flourish outside the paradigm of video games. My partner is still playing overwatch on a regular basis. Now when I watch him play I feel that the games are so overly stimulating, it's a continual barrage of flashing lights and loud noises. Only after unplugging truly have I become aware of this assault on our senses and our brain patterns. I've never really viewed video games in this way before...which is a good step! GF Days: 32 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted March 31, 2018 Author Share Posted March 31, 2018 It's been an interesting few days. I did magic mushrooms nearly two weeks ago as part of a monthly regime I'm exploring. I got floored by the mushrooms, it wasn't a bad trip but I certainly felt very raw, ashamed of my behaviour and vulnerable like I haven't been in a long time. It shook me up and made me realise how gosh darn privileged and lucky I am to be alive and to be where I'm at. I've slowly been able to integrate that wisdom and I'm gaining a sense of peace the more I do so. I've made great improvements to my life recently and I hope to continue to do so. GF Days: 43 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted April 11, 2018 Author Share Posted April 11, 2018 Nothing new to report. Life is coming along well. My business is getting new customers. I am enjoying my game free life more and more. My partner is playing games on a daily basis now, it makes it a little harder but now I'm out of that world I can see how over-stimulating it is. I'll keep going one day at a time ^_^ GF Days: 54 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted April 21, 2018 Author Share Posted April 21, 2018 I'm still managing with no gaming. I have urges to check on old games I used to play, see if they have updates released etc. I know that this is the beginning of my will power slipping, so I haven't done that yet. Playing games crosses my mind more so when I am stressed or uncertain about something. I am learning to just observe these feelings rather than react to them by trying to lose myself in games. It is tough but then so is life :-) So far, so good! GF Days: 64 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted May 4, 2018 Author Share Posted May 4, 2018 I'd like to share something I've been reflecting on this week. Ever since I started farming, working outdoors more, I've noticed that my working patterns change with the seasons. Winter I always have more time to myself and I'm more introspective. Spring is the busiest time of year, Summer is about harvesting & storing what you have, Autumn is a time of slowing down and preparing for Winter (which in Montreal really is 6 months long.) I've begun to notice the good habits I started with more time in Winter begin to become sacrificed as my schedule fills ups. This is certainly what happened last year. I remember as soon as I stopped using Habitica, this forum and other tools that had helped me in the Winter time; I started playing games again. I am now making a commitment to spend my Spring, Summer and Autumn gaming free. Winter will be the hardest time for me though I believe I can do it too! I just have to take one day at a time. I still feel urges to play, and my partner is playing overwatch everyday. I will remain strong and steadfast in my commitments however ^_^ GF Days: 77 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted May 16, 2018 Author Share Posted May 16, 2018 I spend my days working outside with plants. It is hard work but I never feel tired of it. Video games were a part of my old life - a life that was isolated, indoors and alone. Today I am far more connected with myself, my friends and all the plants I work with. I know I can continue these good vibes throughout the year. GF Days: 89 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted June 4, 2018 Author Share Posted June 4, 2018 I still have brief urges of playing video games, especially when things in my life seem to be getting pretty fast paced. I find myself calming my anxieties down now a lot faster than I ever have before. I'm reading a lot of Charles Eisenstein at the moment, he has a lot of good wisdom when it comes to talking about addictions. I will reflect what I have learnt on here some day soon. GF Days: 108 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted June 18, 2018 Author Share Posted June 18, 2018 As pressure or stress builds in my life, I find myself more and more entertaining the day dream of starting to play again. I understand this is a natural response to wanting to avoid the situation I am living in. I recall that this was how it started last year as well, after my first detox. I am instead exploring other ways of momentary escape (reading, DnD etc.) and these work very well too. I will take one day at a time and use this journal as well as a means of expressing my worries about the future (and the possibilities of starting gaming again.) Good luck to you all with your own personal journeys. GF Days: 122 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted July 11, 2018 Author Share Posted July 11, 2018 Today I am struggling. My body and mind feels slow, I lack motivation in normal tasks that bring me a lot of joy. I am strong enough to stay away from gaming though the temptation is still there! I will take the day to be compassionate towards myself and not worry too much. We all need days off from the day to day of life. GF Days: 141 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted July 28, 2018 Author Share Posted July 28, 2018 So I was able to reach day 151 before starting to play video games again. I am not sure what it was exactly that brought me back, though it grew like a hunger. I played solid for a good 5 days. This time it was different however. I knew that the gaming I was partaking in was only a short time affair. A temporary release. I stopped last Wednesday. So it has been over 48 hours since playing and it still feels like normal, like before I had my 5 day vacation from no-gaming. I consider this last week a win. Sure I started gaming again, though the last time I started gaming it lasted for months. This time it lasted for 5 days. That's a win in my book. I have to sit down and figure out what made me start again, and how to plan for that better in the future. For now I am happy. GF Days: 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 I am still trying to find a balance between work and lifestyle. At this moment I am working too often, and for too little money. Trying to run your own business is tough! I am treating this year as a discovery year, figuring out how I want to live the rest of my life. I am enjoying what I do, although looking at my books I can see it is not that sustainable. I am, however, the healthiest and happiest I have ever been. Once I figure out the small details I know I will be looking forward to a much happier lifestyle. I nearly turned to play games for 10 minutes, instead I came on here and started writing it down. It's good to have nourishing support structures in place ? GF Days: 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted September 18, 2018 Author Share Posted September 18, 2018 I am finding myself more and more accepting of my ups and downs when it comes to my moods. I find the trick is not to hold on too tightly to desired emotions or thoughts. And not to push away those that make me stressed or anxious. It's been nearly 40 days since my last post. I played games for 1 day since then. I'm happy with this outcome. It was easier to move away from it again. I hope to continue in this way for the future! GF days: 53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magicalmerlinmark Posted February 14, 2020 Author Share Posted February 14, 2020 Hello folks, I sat down and worked out my most recent GF days. Funny this is 152 days today, one more than my last record. I've not started gaming today, though I have felt the urge recently, hence why I'm back here. I'm a different person from the last time I posted on here. So much has changed, for the better, in my life since 18 months ago. I'm a lot more in touch with my emotions, closer to my friends, better job. Each day is difficult. Life is hard. There are few occasions when the whole cosmos converges and life feels great for a while. It's for these moments that life is worth living. To all of you out there, keep on trying. If I can turn my life around, you all can. Much love, Mark. p.s. DnD has been my saviour. It really allows me to dream, relax and enjoy the fantasy without the gaming element. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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