Why do we go for that extra slice of cake knowing darn well we’ll complain about it later when we step on the scale? Or why do we gamble with our rent money, kid’s college fund or life savings? Why do we risk our marriage just for one night of good sex? Why do we have unprotected sex with people we barely know, knowing the risk that we are taking? Why do we always want what we know is not good for us? Is it for the thrill of it all? Or is it to see if we can really get away with it? Or is it as simple as living in the moment?
I have asked several of my friends this question and no one really had a valid answer. So I started to ponder the question even further. The best reason I came up with is that people simply live in the moment and do not think about the consequences of their actions. Think about it. Do you really think that someone would gamble away their kid’s college fund if they truly weighed the consequences? I don’t think so. Do you think a man or a woman would really risk their marriage, especially if they are happy, for a one night stand if they truly weighed the consequences? I don’t think so.
Unfortunately, we live in a society where we want what we want when we want it and we don’t see, hear or think about anything else during that moment. When you add in the huge amount of temptations out there, being strong can be a huge challenge!! Even Dr. Martin Luther King succumbed to temptation by cheating on his wife. Even Evangelists succumb to temptation because of greed. Even Magic Johnson succumbed to temptation, by having unprotected sex which caused him to be infected with the virus HIV. These men knew the risk and the probable outcome of their actions, but this didn’t stop them. How can one explain this?
I also believe timing and circumstances play a major role in wanting the forbidden fruit. You can take the most faithful man there is, but if you catch him at the wrong time (some may think at the right time) he too can get got, it only takes a minute to make the wrong decision and it can happen to the best of us. But my question is what about the repeat offenders, the ones that just don’t give a hell and repeatedly taste the forbidden fruit. They pick the forbidden fruit so much they can make fruit salad on the regular basis! Do they do it because they are constantly getting away with it and haven’t been punished for their actions, or they just don’t give a hell?
I think we all have tasted the forbidden fruit in some capacity. So think back to a time when you did taste the forbidden fruit and ask yourself why did you do that and please share with us, because I want to know.
Fruit for thought!!
If you have a serious gambling problem and you are located in the Philadelphia area please seek help:
Gamblers Anonymous
Apt 1801, 111 South 15th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102-2603
(215) 468-1991
If you are a sexaholic please visit Philadelphia Area Sexaholics http://phillysa.org/
C Double R!!
Comments
That picture really got my attention!
Dear Chanel. I reside in South Africa, and I am a confirmed CG. I was also an active Police Reservist, in the serious and violent crime unit, and only when I joined GA and followed the program, I found out that both my gambling and police duty had a common link. "Risk" Looking back, throughout my life, I always enjoined "risk". In ever “risk” decision, deep down, I knew that if I failed, what the consequences would be, and I knew that the odds of failing were strongly in my favor, but I still did it. As a police officer, I always volunteered to enter the house first, knowing there were gun men inside waiting to retaliate. I would happily drive at excessive dangerous speeds while chasing a vehicle, knowing that the odds of death were close to certainly. Afterwards, many times my partners would stare at me and shake their head. In horseracing, I knew I was gambling with someone else’s money and I knew for inside information that the horse I was banking had no chance, but I did it. I knew the bridge was not far ahead. I knew that I would never get across it, but never the less, it was not time to cross it yet and I would deal with it then. I now have giving up the Police Duty and an active GA member, and sometimes it brings tears to my eyes how stupid I was then. Why would someone choose to gamble with death knowing that death has the advantage and knowing that I had everything a person could have before taking the risk?
Anonymous,
First thanks for reading my articles and respecting my opinions enough to write to me in regards to your dilemma.
I am not a psychologist but it sounds like you’re addicted to not just gambling, but the thrill of living on the edge, volunteering for dangerous missions, driving at excessive speeds, having little to no regard to your life or others. You’re a thrill seeker looking for that one thing to get you Hero Status!
I would suggest you speaking to a therapist to get to the root of the problem. Is there something in your childhood that makes you want to live on the edge the way that you do? Or is it something that happened to you has an adult that triggered this kind of behavior?
It sounds like you’re finally starting to realize the unwarranted risks that you were taking by quitting the police department, but I strongly recommend that you go back to GA for moral and mental support while you try to get to the root of your problem.
Thanks for reading and I wish you the best of luck. You can also email your questions to cdoubler2@gmail.com.
C Double R!
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