Keep your eyes on the middle distance
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 211,428
Keep your eyes on the middle distance
Not being a driver when I first got my mobility scooter it was tough to learn how to manoeuvre and I 'stacked it' a time or two..
luckily I had a friend who was a professional stunt driver for many years.
He told me - keep your eyes not directly in front of you, but on the middle distance- you need to know whats coming up in order to stay safe and avoid accidents.
I often think that's useful advice for recovery too.
We get caught up in the immediate...or we leap so far ahead that all we can do is get bogged in our fears of what might happen...
Sometimes I think we forget to look ahead...make plans, take evasive action, stay safe/sober.
Maybe today or over the weekend, just take a moment...think about the middle distance for a little.
Whats coming up in your eyeline?
D
luckily I had a friend who was a professional stunt driver for many years.
He told me - keep your eyes not directly in front of you, but on the middle distance- you need to know whats coming up in order to stay safe and avoid accidents.
I often think that's useful advice for recovery too.
We get caught up in the immediate...or we leap so far ahead that all we can do is get bogged in our fears of what might happen...
Sometimes I think we forget to look ahead...make plans, take evasive action, stay safe/sober.
Maybe today or over the weekend, just take a moment...think about the middle distance for a little.
Whats coming up in your eyeline?
D
Member
Join Date: Aug 2018
Posts: 67
Just what I needed to hear this morning. At the end of today I’ll have made 5 weeks without a drink. At moments the idea of ‘forever’ sounds impossible and some mornings I’m just not excited about ‘today’ either. I think having some short term plans to motivate me will help.
Guest
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 8,674
Sounds like the kind of good suggestion my sponsor would give!
For us, we had been planning to celebrate our wedding publicly i.e. With closest fam and Friends this year(we got married at the courthouse last Dec 1) . Due to a few things and my back injury therefore not working for three or so months this year, we decided to put original plans on hold til early Sep, i.e. Now. I work for a restaurant group and one of our places is particularly special- we had planned on a 40 ish Guest brunch with the place to ourselves, partly thanks to the generosity of my bosses and the owner...
Just this morning, we settled in our choice of a plan B, that evening during what we will call the mocktail hours, same place...les people and a few of the extras, but inclusive of our loved ones and ultimately very true to us.
This is a middle distance call indeed! Grateful to be confident in us and our life in recovery to make it.
Thanks Dee!
For us, we had been planning to celebrate our wedding publicly i.e. With closest fam and Friends this year(we got married at the courthouse last Dec 1) . Due to a few things and my back injury therefore not working for three or so months this year, we decided to put original plans on hold til early Sep, i.e. Now. I work for a restaurant group and one of our places is particularly special- we had planned on a 40 ish Guest brunch with the place to ourselves, partly thanks to the generosity of my bosses and the owner...
Just this morning, we settled in our choice of a plan B, that evening during what we will call the mocktail hours, same place...les people and a few of the extras, but inclusive of our loved ones and ultimately very true to us.
This is a middle distance call indeed! Grateful to be confident in us and our life in recovery to make it.
Thanks Dee!
Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Big City
Posts: 3,895
As do many of the concepts and perspectives that have to do with keeping sober, this one is perfect for anyone, in any walk of life. I really like it Dee. Thanks so much for terrific Saturday morning thought.
Re-Tread
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Meditation
Posts: 1,300
Love that Dee.
It makes me think on one of my favorite hobbies, golf. When I get ready to hit a shot I look out to where I want the ball to go, consider shot shape, and what my worst potential mishit might be. I line that up on the ground with a small target 2 or 3 feet in front of me. Sometimes its just a blade of grass.
Once I step up to address the ball I am only seeing the close target, Not still looking way out there.
And when it comes time to swing I clear my mind, I dont worry about positive or negative outcomes I just stay in that moment.
It makes me think on one of my favorite hobbies, golf. When I get ready to hit a shot I look out to where I want the ball to go, consider shot shape, and what my worst potential mishit might be. I line that up on the ground with a small target 2 or 3 feet in front of me. Sometimes its just a blade of grass.
Once I step up to address the ball I am only seeing the close target, Not still looking way out there.
And when it comes time to swing I clear my mind, I dont worry about positive or negative outcomes I just stay in that moment.
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