#RareLife
I am so grateful this New Year for all that I have. I cannot express my gratitude for everyone in my life who has stuck by my side, who has forgiven me as they've watched me repeat mistakes over and over— as I have learned that life isn’t just about ME. It’s about US.
As I add to this post, I reflect on the family dynamics therapy I have been focused on this year— perspective. I have spent so much of my life selfishly. Even when I think I’m recovering, I’m the one draining the energy out of the room.
This is an exercise we did on New Years Eve, burning everything from 2024– rewatching it, looking at my dad, it is clear that all of the things I wrote to burn, were things that hurt him more than me. I gave up trying to burn this, “bird.” My dad was adiment on burning all of my 2024 until it was ashes. Looking from the perspective of others, I’m learning how selfish I have lived. Eight months ago, I laughed that my past couldn’t hurt him anymore. However, I know now that he was praying AGAIN that he couldn’t handle my mistakes hurting my family again.
2024 was a year of trials. Althouh there were times I had felt as if I could apologize and move on; 2025 shattered my world. I learned that my world isn’t about me. The way I was going about things— was so selfish. I didn’t know how to look at both sides of the perspective. I learned if I didn’t start acknowledging the importance of the other person and how they saw how I drained energy, I would lose them.
So thank you. All of you. Everyone I love. This year I had originally made a list of words of intentions. I had claimed I had learned in this life that I am still searching for my purpose (which I have always known, I’m just learning how to live selflessly, learning to mend the damage I created with those I love the most in my life).
I had claimed it was through those mistakes I repeat, that I am taught the most valuable lessons, which lead to change and bring me closer to my purpose. I don’t think I knee what I was talking about to be honest.
I just enjoyed being an arsonist, I enjoyed burning down my life. I have never known life without chaos, so I strung pretty words together to try to make sense of them.
When I original posted this, it was New Years Eve, I was nine years of being sober from drugs and alcohol.
However, this year l've learned the perception I have of myself— I tend to project onto what I assume others think of me. That’s not fair to them.
Thank you for those of you who hold me accountable to the person you know I can be, I’m not an arsonist anymore. I don’t love chaos. I don’t love to start my life on fire and walk away and watch it burn. I don’t love to hurt the people in my life. That was old me, not the new me.
This was an exercise from New Years Eve, where I wrote down all of the negative things I didn’t want to follow me, ripped them into pieces and glued them into a bird as a symbolization of "letting go." The point was to leave all the negative of 2024 in 2024 and go into 2025 with a clean slate.
The lessons I've learned in 2024, I promised to take into 2025 as lessons but I promised not to repeat. Those lessons have taught me: Everything I invest my time and energy into will be done with intention.
Words of 2025: Personal & Professional Boundaries, Authenticity, Purpose & Intention, Empowerment, Freedom, Presence, Resilience, Gratitude, and Solitude.
I am grateful for another year of sobriety.💕
#anotheryearsober #grateful #blessed #beautyinrecovery #raremoments
**August Update**
It is time to make another bird to burn, for I am grateful to have the therapist I have. I am grateful for my family and friends. I am grateful for all that I have. My life is unique. I am so lucky for everything and everyone.
The author's story highlights the power of perspective and the importance of personal growth through family dynamics therapy. Understanding how past behaviors impact loved ones is crucial in healing relationships and fostering empathy. The symbolic act of creating and burning a paper bird to let go of negative experiences from 2024 illustrates a mindful practice of releasing emotional burdens and starting anew with intentionality. Sobriety for nine years marks a significant milestone, emphasizing the challenges and victories involved in recovery. This journey is not just about abstaining from substances but about embracing a lifestyle of authenticity, self-awareness, and accountability. Setting clear personal and professional boundaries, as noted by the author, plays a vital role in maintaining emotional health and nurturing respectful relationships. The mention of key values and words of 2025— such as Authenticity, Empowerment, and Presence— reflects a commitment to living intentionally. These intentions align well with psychological concepts of resilience and mindfulness, which have been shown to promote lasting well-being. Incorporating gratitude and solitude as part of self-care enhances one's ability to remain grounded amid life's challenges. Therapeutic support, family, and friends are essential pillars in this ongoing transformation. Their role in holding the author accountable and offering forgiveness underscores the social dimension of recovery. It reminds readers that healing is often a communal process involving empathy and support. For those seeking to embark on or continue a path of self-improvement and sobriety, this reflection encourages embracing vulnerability and learning from past mistakes. It stresses the importance of shifting focus from self-centeredness to mutual care and respect, which are foundational for sustainable positive change. In summary, the journey shared in this article offers valuable insights and inspiration for anyone navigating recovery, personal transformation, or complex family dynamics. It serves as a reminder that every effort toward growth, no matter how challenging, contributes to a richer and more meaningful life.
