"Your mind is your invisible talisman. The letters PMA (positive mental attitude) are emblazoned on one side, and NMA (negative mental attitude) on the other. These are powerful forces."
- W. Clement Stone
Day 361 AF
It is nearly a year of complete abstinence from alcohol for me, not just being sober, but moving forward and growing in true recovery. Christmas of 2023 is now past and I can proudly say I passed through the holiday season with clear eyes and a clean spirit. Urges to use never arose. Instead, I recognized the people, places, and things that would have been cause for escape or celebration in the past, and I knew with confidence that I was in control of my thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. So, yeah ... yay for me!
The topic for this week is about growing a physical collection of reminders to spur my journey forward. Early this year, I started counseling sessions with a very good therapist. At one early appointment, I shared with him my idea of using an object I had found from my past that could serve as a reminder and motivator for my recovery. The idea came after I discovered in a box an object I had whittled many years ago with my first pocketknife and a simple piece of wood. This simple token was a spur for thoughts about my creative abilities from my youth, and the negative impact that substance use and addiction have had on these abilities. With encouragement from my therapist, I kept this object on my desk or tabletop, typically in sight when I journaled or practiced mindfulness.
Over time, I have found other objects that have ignited thoughts about my recovery, positive thoughts to motivate me forward, and reminders that I don't ever want to fall back into old negative behaviors. I will list those items here and a brief description of the meaning that each has for me.
Wood Carving: A symbol of my creative spirit from early in life, something I think we all possess and if lost we can reconnect with.
A*Hole Gum: I obtained this in an earlier recovery attempt, as kind of a joke, but now I accept the the truth behind the humor.
Toy Camera: A symbol of my current creative passion; to see, capture, and share the beauty I find in the world
Dice: The randomness of life; things happen, some that we can control and some that we can't. It's our reaction to events that matter.
Coin: A symbol of choice. We have the power to choose our directions and actions. Even not making a choice is a choice.
Chain Link: The broken, rusty chain link reminds me of the chains that past trauma and substance use have wrapped me in. For too long, I have let this bondage hold me back from living fully.
Rubber Band: A symbol of flexibility; being open to new possibilities, and not letting rigid patterns of thinking and feeling limit my growth.
Lens Cleaner: A symbol of clarity; seeing the world without the filters or blinders of my limiting beliefs.
Sucker: Yeah, candy! It's perfectly fine to have a reward, a sweet treat from time to time. Maybe not always the healthiest choice, but never again the poison of alcohol.
The symbolic items in the image are laid out for distinct viewing in this blog post. Normally, they are in a small container at the edge of my desk or table. When journaling or sitting in thought, I will sometimes glance at the collection and often find an old memory spurred or a new idea birthed by one or more of these objects. There is no religiosity or ceremony associated with these. They are just things. But for me, they are powerful reminders of my sobriety and recovery.
Next week, I will be passing safely through New Year's and over a year of real recovery. I am confident and I look forward to posting next week.
My way of recovery is working for me. Recovery may be different for everyone in the recovery community and I wish success to all.
If my writings in this photography project can benefit anyone in their recovery, I am proud to be of service!
Staying mindful and strong!
instagram.com/bobd.photography
#Recovery52 #recovery #sobriety #addictionrecovery #smartrecovery #mindfulrecovery #creativerecovery #secularreocovery #soberphotography #photography #photographyproject #photoproject