Briar

Thanks guys, I feel really good about this anniversary. I'm not perfect where I'm at, far from it, but I know for sure I wouldn't even be able to go up against some of this hard stuff if I were still drinking. As my friend pointed out the other day, there's a decent chance I wouldn't even be alive today at the rate I was going. Everything that has happened in the past year has been valuable and made me stronger. And I seriously could not have done it without this group and SR. This feels like home to me, and you guys like family, it's always a safe place to land. Thank you all so much for that.

Briar

I wrote this piece the other day. It seems fitting to post it today:

Baby girl and I have been drawing mandalas lately. I find them very calming, and they have come to have symbolic significance to me because the larger they grow, the more beautiful and complex they become. Often, when I complete a round, I feel I should stop. It’s done – it’s perfect. With each new round, I have to give myself permission to risk ruining it. I don’t know if what I’m going to try will work, but I know that the mandala will not grow if I don’t do it. Thing is – even when I screw it up, I keep going, and it always turns out beautiful. Inevitably, the best ones include mistakes and rounds that don’t look good, but embedded in the bigger picture, they look beautiful. I am reminded that I am growing too – physically, mentally, emotionally. And it’s good. I will be one extremely badass mandala someday, but only if I keep going.

This one is from the other day:



Baby girl and I did this one last night. She helped out with the coloring :

Arbor

Awesome Briar! One whole year! Take it for what it is. An amazing accomplishment. You've grown whether your brain believes it or not. And we've all grown right along with you thanks to your contributing efforts here. Happy to be part of this amazing SR family with you and would do just about anything for any of y'all.

Enjoy your day.

Briar

Likewise Arbor - I'm so grateful to have you here so we can attempt to survive early parenthood together!

Arbor

Yes! That too. We're rockin it! Who says you can't rock it everyday?

It's on!!!

phoebe64

Briar, those are beautiful, the words and the Mandalas!! I color them, but have never tried drawing my own. I will think of your beautiful words forever, now, whenever I see or color a mandala.

Mark1014

I'm glad the birthday dinner went well phoebe.....sounds like my kind of food!

Behold the dirt I had delivered this morning and the large brush pile in the background that needs to be burned. I need some help moving that dirt to the low corner of my yard once that pile is gone. So what time can I expect this helpful group?

Briar

How'd you get it to stick to the ceiling like that?

Mark1014

What the heck? It's right side up on my iPad!

Ok, lunch break over. That dirt ain't gonna move itself......and I can assure you nobody else in this house likes to do the physical labor thing.

venuscat

Don't get any ideas Mark.
Pointing that huge dirt pile this way doesn't mean the Aussies are going to help you. Not me anyway.

Morning all, and Congratulations again dearest Briar.♥

SoberLeigh

That all depends on what you are making for dinner, Mark!!!!

SoberLeigh

Mornin', venuscat.

SoberLeigh

Hi, Briar. How does it feel to be ONE YEAR sober????!!!!!!

Briar

Hi Leigh, it feels really good. We had a nice picnic at the creek with my wonderful friend. I drew this mandala while I had a long conversation with my friend about breaking through perfectionism. He struggles with it too, so we are both working toward a more balanced approach to the tasks we take on. I told him about how the mandala is a metaphor for growing by taking risks, and he found the idea helpful too. He also said I should partner up with a tattoo artist . It was a really nice time.

Briar

Haha!

venuscat

I'm glad you had a nice time Briar. ♥

Briar

Thanks V. I'm so proud of you for your milestone. It's been amazing to watch your life blossom.

venuscat

Thank you.
I feel like a very slow-blooming flower though.

Mark1014

Several of y'all are in the 24 thread and likely notice as I do the always upbeat Kaneda. He posted on page 26 of the thread (part110) a link to an article that I think nails lots of good points....some was a little over my head but it is a good read on 'resilience'.

I'm exhausted, but that was my goal. Now for my once weekly treat of a pot pie. Yep, I like 'em.

Arbor

The frog makes it though, Vee. She makes it...

Night.