Letting go of the outcome
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: behind the viewfinder...
Posts: 6,278
Letting go of the outcome
It's amazing to me how the lessons I've learned in recovery apply to every aspect of my life.
For nearly a year now, I've been wanting to get a photograph of Mount Shasta, reflected in Lake Siskiyou at sunset with the full moon rising. I have the location picked out. I check my app that shows me the position of the moonrise. Every month, there is one day when the full or nearly full moon rises at almost exactly the same time the sun sets. But, the moon is not in the right part of the sky every month. There are only two or three months out of the year when the position of the moon is right for the shot I want. That amounts to only two or three days out of the year when the shot I envision is possible. Yesterday was one of those days. Needless to say, I was a little bummed out when I saw the sky full of clouds. I knew that the chances of getting the shot I wanted were slim. But, I went out anyway. I let go of the outcome. And this is what I got.
For nearly a year now, I've been wanting to get a photograph of Mount Shasta, reflected in Lake Siskiyou at sunset with the full moon rising. I have the location picked out. I check my app that shows me the position of the moonrise. Every month, there is one day when the full or nearly full moon rises at almost exactly the same time the sun sets. But, the moon is not in the right part of the sky every month. There are only two or three months out of the year when the position of the moon is right for the shot I want. That amounts to only two or three days out of the year when the shot I envision is possible. Yesterday was one of those days. Needless to say, I was a little bummed out when I saw the sky full of clouds. I knew that the chances of getting the shot I wanted were slim. But, I went out anyway. I let go of the outcome. And this is what I got.
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Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 50
Oh my this is gorgeous. I too have found that letting go of trying to control everything has been beneficial and part of my working on me and the outcomes can be quite surprising. For example after 14 months of frustration about not being able to get our divorce settlement finalized I finally said what would be would be. I turned it over to my HP. My higher power must have known that it would be to my benefit not to have it finalized. AH died 2 weeks ago and we were still married. If I had had my own way and had I made the settlement payout I would have lost hundreds of thousands of dollars to his estate and his heirs. (He never worked much in 20+ years, he was suing me for alimony/support and going to get a portion of my IRA and investment account.) I don't feel good looking at his death that way but the 'coincidence' of how it all happened actually reinforced to me that I was NOT in charge. Time and again through this 14 month journey of separation/divorce proceedings I have been provided for just when I needed something............suitable housing, friendships, financial needs.
Thanks again for the beautiful picture and the reminder of letting go of trying to control things.
Thanks again for the beautiful picture and the reminder of letting go of trying to control things.
Occasional poor taste poster
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,542
Dayum. That's amazing. The pacific NW is one of the beautiful places in the US. Where I live there's nothing like that. Just brown Potomac River water. But some how I bet you would get great shots of it.
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Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: small town in Ontario
Posts: 13
What a great photo -just love the juxtaposition of the hard rocky uneven foreground (symbolic of alcoholism? ) against the uplifting, colourful, soft and somewhat spiritual background (symbolic of our own recovery? )
As part of taking care of myself and detaching, I am getting back into my love of photography and really admire your dedication to getting the perfect shot! Thank you!
As part of taking care of myself and detaching, I am getting back into my love of photography and really admire your dedication to getting the perfect shot! Thank you!
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: behind the viewfinder...
Posts: 6,278
Thank you all. The more I do this, the more I realize I am not in control. I have ideas and intentions, but the end result is determined by Mother Nature. It's important to have the ideas and intentions, because they lead me where I need to be. But clinging too tightly to them might cause me to miss the true beauty that is offered to me. I'm okay with letting the universe take control because it is far wiser and more creative than I am. My job is only to be prepared for what comes my way.
A jug fills drop by drop
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,784
Wonderful ok I always post "wonderful" in your picture threads 
I dreamed once that I was at the top of Mt Shasta and all kinds of spiritual people were helping me heal. Perhaps my soul traveled during the night...
snowrose, time to start taking pictures, thanks to LTD's posts I took a photography course, bought my first "good" camera, started a blog and even got published in a mag
Now I got like 3k pictures of my whereabouts :S
A therapeutic activity.
ok I always post "wonderful" in your picture threads I dreamed once that I was at the top of Mt Shasta and all kinds of spiritual people were helping me heal. Perhaps my soul traveled during the night...
snowrose, time to start taking pictures, thanks to LTD's posts I took a photography course, bought my first "good" camera, started a blog and even got published in a mag
Now I got like 3k pictures of my whereabouts :SA therapeutic activity.
Living in a Pinkful Place
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 7,545
Oh my gracious - just look at all the PINKNESS in that beautiful photo ~
it's absolutely gorgeous - so so so glad you let go of the outcome & shared that with us ~
and most of all I am so happy you are being able to do what your heart desires ~
pink hugs!
it's absolutely gorgeous - so so so glad you let go of the outcome & shared that with us ~
and most of all I am so happy you are being able to do what your heart desires ~
pink hugs!
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