For 18 months in early sobriety, every time I would exercise, I ended up in tears. At first, I was embarrassed. Then I thought “About what? You are here all alone, let it out!” Then I read “The Body Keeps The Score” and after that, every time I cry, I just visualize some deep part of me, probably as a child, that wanted to cry, but wasn’t allowed to, and I just let it out. All that subconscious fear and self-doubt and shame. It’s a cleansing. Lisa H. The Pink Cloud. I had no idea of what that was until I fell off of its fluffy softness and face-planted onto the ground about six months into my sober experience. I had been giddy with gratitude and joy in early sobriety as my body healed and my brain cleared. Life was bright and beautiful and I felt like I could literally fly!!! Then the waves of emotion that I had been numbing with alcohol came crashing over me. Hitting me hard. Knocking me down. Sometimes feeling like I might drown in those waves. Anger, sadness, impatience, doubt, loneliness… What the F***k was this? And how do I get back on my F****ing cloud??? It took a little while for me to accept that feeling the feels, not just the happy ones, is a part of living life and that ALL feelings will pass. I am relearning strategies to help me understand where all of these feelings and emotions are coming from. And feel much more peaceful these days. Yup. Face planting off the pink cloud caught me by surprise. But I have to admit that I am liking the Peace Cloud better. -Regina-
I lean toward calming hues- I love shades of blue and green. I get my color therapy out in the natural world. It is truly a wonder each season while out on walks and hikes to see the changes. In spring the green is vivid, so green I’ve said many times it almost hurts my eyes after the grey of winter. New growth, leaves unfurling, green things poking up through the earth, fresh ferns in little tight green balls- it never gets old. In the summertime, the wild rugosa roses bloom in the many hues of blue ocean. The first weekend of July is always celebrated by a beautiful display of pink mountain laurels in the woods. Fall brings a firework of color, a last blast before the long winter. I always feel as though nature is saying, here, I’m giving you a gift of blazing red and orange and yellow before you hunker down for the winter. Truly amazing and I enjoy every second of these offerings, every season. Julie C.
HOLA SOBER | MADRID
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker