Today as I had the day off, I did quite a bit of housework. It dawned on me that this used to be one of my many attempts to go on a gamble binge. "I deserve to go to the casino because of how much I accomplished at home", etc. I would even steam clean the entire house in an attempt to have my wife condone my casino trip. A very manipulative ploy. My ultimate reward for a hard day of chores?? Broke, depressed, out till 4am to be up at 6am to get the kids ready for school and then work 9am to 9pm. Ultimately a punishment for my efforts. We don't perform these tasks to be "rewarded" but rather because they must be done. It is our duty and responsibility to work hard, not to receive adulation or reward. But mostly, we don't do these tasks to ultimately punish ourselves. Tonight, as the kids are now settled for bed, I look upon a clean house and folded laundry and realize the finished task is the reward in and of itself. Another day gamble free is another day I'm truly me. Blessings to all my DS friends!