Mazel Tov! Mazel Tov! Although it's the three weeks, I would venture to say that for this occasion, it is permissible to say "SheHechiyanu V'Kimanu, V'Higiyanu L'Zman Hazeh!"

The reason I say this is because, it is otherwise forbidden to say that Bracha of Simcha in this period as we lost our Bais HaMikdash. However, The Guard Your Eyes website, by its very launch, was the first step in the Bais HaMikdash's rebuilding; the first step in Klal Yisroel's rebirth.

I don't say this jokingly; I mean it!

(Note from admin: Actually, as "Battleworn" pointed out on the forum, the Beis Aharon of Karlin and his father R' Asher of Stolin had a Minhag to make a Shehecheyonu on the 22 Tamuz because of the Yartzeit of Rav Shlomo Karliner! And other Tzadikim also continued this custom...)

Too many members of our holy nation have stooped into the 50th level of Tumah, rachmana L'Tzlan, and thus have held Mashiach back from arriving.

The GYE revolution, which is being fought by each and every individual on the site, led by the chief tzaddik, R' Guard, is what will usher in Moshiach sooner than you can imagine!

On a personal level, Chazal tell us that Hashem always prepares the cure before the sickness arrives. About a year and a half ago, Baruch Hashem, I was given a second chance by Hashem.

I was steeped in a life of sin and decadence and firmly in the camp of our arch enemy, the Yetzer Hara.

Hashem orchestrated a series of events which led me to choose life, to throw away the yetzer Hara and embrace the beauty of Hashem and His holy Torah.

I had many struggles to overcome, many battles to win, many changes to implement, many ideals to embrace and many people to distance myself from.

It was hard. It was beyond hard. It was virtually impossible.

Yet, with Hashem's help, I began my journey to become a new and better person.

The very week that I began my return, I "happened" to see an ad for GYE on the Yeshiva world website (which is why all donations are important to help the ads be out there for others in need)

I can honestly say that had I not found the site, i would not have had the strength to hold on and to maintain my status as a Ba'al Teshuva.

I know myself. I know my strengths and my weakneses. I say this with complete confidence; Having the great people on the site as support and building a friendship with the great Tzaddik R' Guard, is the thing that kept me grounded and allowed me the resolve to do many of the things I was able to do in the past year and a half.

Every person is obligated to say "B'shvili Nivra H'Olam- the world was created for me!" (This is a responsibility, not a decleration of haughtiness. It means that every person makes a difference and that every little sin, can destroy the entire world! See Ben Yehoyada to Talmud Nidah 31b for more about this)

Well, I stand here today and say "B'Shvili Nivra H'Guard Your Eyes website".

And each and every yid that was helped, even in a small way, by the site, should get up and say it too!

Say it loud!

Say it proud!

Say it with resolve!

Say it without shame!

" I am a Guard Your Eyes Success Story!"

"B'Shvili Nivra H'Guard Your Eyes website"

My dear friends, Mashiach can be here before this Tisha B'Av!

Let's make it happen!

Let's throw away everything that the Yetzer Hara wants us to hold on to!

Let's show the lousy Yetzer Hara that his reign is O-V-E-R!!!!!

Chazak V'Ematz!!!

Your dear friend and brother,

Mevakesh Hashem

Surrender is the key. Only surrender helps.
Whoa, did I have a night!

Lust knocked. I said, "go away, I'm not paying $200 just for the privilege (?) of acting out!"
But then lust became a fire. Seriously, I was burning with the thing. I had to act out! But- I have a signed note in my drawer vowing to pay $200 to tzedaka. But- I HAD TO ACT OUT! Who CARES about that note? I was on the verge of nullifying it then and there.

The only thing left to do was cry out to Hashem, (albeit silently, so as not to alarm my husband, innocently on the way to drift off to sleep.)

So that's what I did, that's what I usually do. But last night I felt this helplessness on such a deep level, it was not normal. My whole being was screaming "I can't, Hashem, I can't! Only You can! I'm giving my struggle over to You because I CAN'T DEAL!"

Not even a minute and Hashem was putting out the fire. Lust slunk off, and I was able to sleep in such happiness and peace.

Thank You, Hashem!

Reading "divrei chizuk" (from R' Tzvi Meyer) on the topics of Tisha b'Av on Tisha b'Av afternoon is fantastic. (Almost any busywork is better for me - a touchy recovering addict - than focusing on feeling yucky!)

There are other people on this forum who have regular and deep ties to Reb Tzvi Meyer. I only visited him for a week, a few years ago, and whenever I am in Eretz Yisroel I try to get to his Erev Shabbos 1hr shmooz at 12 or 1pm, etc.

His "Divrei Chizzuk" functions kind of like the Bnei Yisoschar always has for me: he describes exactly what the avodah of the day/week/month or tekufah is about and suggests specific ideas to focus on that are essential to improving avodah in general. Beautiful. His Torah and Orah are life itself!

Nevertheless, I cannot say this enough, and have posted a lot about this in the past: These seforim, and all the good intentions and teachings of yiras shomayim in the world - and out of it, are not what I needed - and need - to stay sober today.

As an addict, I needed to work the 12-steps with help from another addict. Period.

The seforim and Torah give us a reason to live, and they define "being alive" bichlal. They also give me a reason to want to be sober.

But for me, the way to get sober and sane enough to stay alive, was by using these tools (the 12-Steps and a sponsor), and not by doing more of what I was doing before, nor even by doing it better.

I wish you the best, of course, and I love you, no matter what. You may not be an addict at all. But if you are, you may need to do these steps too, as I did.

Do you have a problem with obsessive and compulsive porn use? Have you seriously tried the tools on GYE and feel that you are not getting better? Maybe it’s time to consider joining a 12-Step program.

Porn Anonymous (PA)
If you’re compulsively acting-out with pornography and masturbation we suggest you explore joining Porn Anonymous (PA). If you need help deciding whether to join PA, call Michael at 347-699-2368, or email help@pornanonymous.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit pornanonymous.org (Hebrew: p-a.org.il / Yiddish: pa-yid.org).

Sexaholics Anonymous (SA)
If your compulsive acting-out has progressed beyond the screen (with other people, paid sexual services, etc.) we suggest you explore joining Sexaholics Anonymous (SA). To figure out if SA is for you, call Dov at 917-414-8205, or email Dov at dov@guardyoureyes.org to schedule a time to talk. For more information visit www.sa.org.