Hi everyone. It has been a while since i posted on one of my own threads, but here goes:

Many guys here are aware that for the last few years an incentive has been offered for fellows trying to break free. A small but choshuv sum of money was offered for tzaddikim that for a personally designed amount of days (most guys it was 30 days) would 1. text daily updates, 2. refrain from any purposeful physical stimulation (except in the context of marriage), 3. refrain from "outside" stimulation - computer imagery/phone calls/books/inappropriate destinations - even non-pornographic, 4. not use an unsafe device even for kosher purposes (except if absolutely necessary - but even then with accountability). Some chevra "cashed in" for many months, until they were confident that they had "graduated". Automatically this system, besides creating accountability and motivation, helped foster a mentor relationship for the newbies attempting to break free. The results were BH astounding, with a very high percentage of guys breaking free completely, and others at least tasting consistent very extended clean times, giving them hope and motivation to keep at it. Many thousands of privately raised dollars were distributed BH.

Guard Your Eyes watched this program develop and "explode". On occasion GYE was able to be involved with funding the reward, but due to technical issues could not be heavily involved. Now that certain legalities and other technicalities were ironed out, GYE will be able to send rewards in a more consistent fashion to many of the participants. GYE has opened a page explaining the program and created a fundraising system to iyh cover what is becoming an enormous budget. 

Please consider being part of the program (many reading this may have already been part by being on the receiving end...). Click on the link at your convenience and help save a neshama - guardyoureyes.com/save

It has been a while, but i recently posted a poem on a more recent thread that some old timers may not be subscribed to. I think they would like it, so i am copying it here. Yiftach (mentioned in the last stanza) is a recent GYE hero, who BH is doing super and his reaching 90 days was the impetus for this rhyme.

A baby eagle, falls among the chicks,
"Peck peck" he copies, searching for food bits,

Learns to hop, and strut, true chicken pride,
Stays near the coop, avoids the world open wide.

Yet always thirsty, searching for more,
Why with wings, do we prance on the floor?

Envious of objects, flying so high,
That's life as a chicken, he states with a sigh.

One day a man, eyes this strange bird,
Behold it's an eaglet, truly absurd.

Strutting in the mud, eating bugs - peck peck?!
A prince playing with peasants, oy, what a shrek!

He urgently seizes, our young, feathered friend,
Races up the mountain, to the peak - the high end,

Clutching the trembling baby, he whispers - no he screams,
Fly, fly now - stretch out your majestic wings!

He tosses the fowl, way up to the sky,
But our terrified "chick", lets out a fearful cry,

Yet, while tumbling to earth, with trauma and fear,
He uses his wings, to break the fall as he comes near,

Hey, i didn't know, these accordion bumps on my side,
Can actually do something, and open oh so wide.

So, when the two-legged creature, while propelling him up yet again,
Bellowed a shout - You prince - Fly! You're the envy of men.

He opened those wings, majestic and proud,
And zoomed over mountains - beyond valleys shaded by cloud.

Yes, one king redeemed, to claim a destiny - really always his own,
Yet how many of our brothers, are still amongst chicks, eagles all alone?

Take them out of the street, the virtual falsehood of Nations,
Show them their wings, and their royal destinations.

Fly my friends, take off the shackles, dare tread the royal road,
And live "hecher" just like Yiftach, with Malchus sheb'Yesod.

Hashem Help Me wrote on 21 May 2019 11:40:

Shalom Chevra. I know I'm quoting from 2019, but reading these beautiful posts and wanted to share a recording of (a variation) of the meaningful story Reb HHM posted. It was said over at a GYE event and I hope it can be a source of powerful chizuk. It's only 4 minutes long. 
torahanytime.com/lectures/239335
Kol tov.

Hashem Help Me wrote on 03 Sep 2018 23:39:

You did that for me.  Around that time.  6 years later, I think I'm finally getting it!!!

Hashem Help Me wrote on 27 Dec 2018 03:21:

I wrote this a little while ago

im learning also that life is often, basically, very uncomfortable.  a human being is supposed to be able to deal with that and just move through that - but with the internet, there is this very strong temptation to instantly soothe and numb one’s feelings - not just with schmutz but even just scrolling around.  one enormous massive bracha that the challenge has given me is getting rid of the smart phone and basically all of the internet except for work and chess and torah things which is such a cheirus to be able to focus on hashem and torah… forget the schmutz even just stam all of the endless distractions. I feel very sorry for people who are still using smart phones honestly.  ive been using this flip phone for like half a year now and it’s been perfect.  and the gen tech set up is perfect.  it was challenging to figure it all out.  im very happy. thank you for your continued support and time."

In many of the sipurei tzaddikim from bygone years, there appear "hidden tzaddikim" - unassuming individuals that appeared to be simple, yet they were oh so great. One could pass them in the marketplace and not even realize that he had been in the presence of someone special.

Recently i had the zchus to meet an icon of GYE - Gevurah Shebeyesod, someone who has inspired so many guys over so many years. As unassuming as they come, modest, quiet, yet focused, and bursting with passion. We met on a random street - anyone passing by would simply think we were talking about some mundane issue. Unless they looked deep into his eyes (as i did), they saw "nothing". A master at hiding himself. What should i say? Now i know those stories of hidden tzaddikim are true. Not that i ever doubted it - but now i know it.

Hashem Help Me wrote on 15 Sep 2024 05:24:

I don't have much to add. Gevurah Shebyesod has been helpful for me in the past and helped me immensely when I was going through a difficult time.

All I can add is, "It takes one, to recognize one!"

Both of you should be able to keep up being marbeh kvod shamayim on this world and be zoche to be the conduit of hashpoas hakedusha in this world.