Newcomer, want to keep my hope alive!

[iwantittowork]

I meant to ask, but what are you doing for your GAL'ing? I started going out to dinner and a movie with a friend every couple of weeks - just one thing, but something I never would have done before, especially on a week night.

I don't normally 'toot my own horn' so to speak, but I realized that I (and probably many on this board) don't give attention too, nor praise for ourselves and others doing these things. So, I am documenting in this post those things I have done that I consider GAL, and how they have impacted me. My hope is that someone actually reads through them, and takes some positive steps for themselves with there own GAL activities.

My GAL's:

- First and foremost, Since January - I started working out 3-4 times a week, and just this past weekend passed the 30lb lost mark, also fighting through a pinched nerve in my back at the same time. I am not in the same shape I was when I was 25, but darnit, I AM in the best shape I have been in, in 10+ years!

- 1 a week, started going to IC that I chose, for me, to work on the issues I identified that I needed to work on. The IC also suggested that I attend his group sessions 1 a week.

- 1 a week, mens only group sessions. I can't express enough, even though I have only just started about 1.5 months ago, how much this has helped already. After this short timespan, I realize now, that I had been missing close relationships with other men during my life. I had 'buddies' and friends, but never people you could open up to intimately. This one thing I think will be hugely important to me, whatever happens to my current R. I can't stress enough to people that you should really look into this for yourselves.

- Over the last couple of months, been out several times with old work buddies just for dinners, also went with a bunch of guys to drag race, been visiting my BIL, who I used to hang out a lot with, and my d8 plays with my niece while he and I work on his car, or the boat he just built. Also started more intimate conversations with him, and realized he needs that as well, closeness with other guys, in non-judgmental ways..

- Every Friday after work, they have a social 'party' to close out the week, I used to just not go and head straight home, feeling guilty about how long I was away from home while working during the week, etc. I now go for an hour or two every week, it's nice to socialize with co-workers in non pressure environment.

- Upcoming plans -

In October, 2 buddies and I are flying to Denver to watch the Pats/Bronco's play, and I just can't wait for football season to start!

Other friend just contacted me today, saying he has tickets to the Pat's hall of fame, and if I would like to go, so were setting that up for a night after work, hit that place, then dinner.

(Yes, I am a HUGE pat's fan, sorry to all you New England haters out there!)

Got to work on my boat, need to clean that up and get it running, my d8 is longing to get out on the ocean, and the more we sit at the beach and watch them go by on weekends, the more I want to get out there too...

I have other things I want to do, but have not made concrete plans for, but I will!

There's more small things but those are some big hitters for me, I hope you all reading are doing the same and GAL!!!