"Passion creates, addiction consumes."
- Gabor Mate, In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts
Day 262 AF!
This has been a good week for me, relatively speaking. At thirty-five weeks alcohol-free, having moved beyond routine urges and practicing healthier habits in both thinking and behavior, I feel my sobriety is solid. But I am smart enough to know, from past experience, that my sobriety is not assured. I have abstained for periods of time before. I recall three serious attempts at sobriety in the past after drinking became a problem in my life, and then choosing to return to the false comfort of induced numbness or altered awareness. My attempts at what I'll call "white-knuckle recovery" did not hold.
The difference in this recovery effort is that I have made significant changes in understanding myself through self-awareness, with support from loved ones and a good therapist. Recognizing my old ways of thinking kept me on the path of self-destruction, I have strived to practice mindfulness and accept the reality of life, not to hide from it. To focus on being present to myself and others, and to choose wise responses over blind reactions.
I am excited about sobriety this time, and passionate about creating. Creating my better self, creating more meaningful relationships with the people in my life, creating art with my photography, and creating my future. Creativity in these aspects of my life is restoring meaning to my life.
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
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