42 days, $848 dollars saved and 37800 calories not consumed. Nice work me!!!
I can't say that it has been easy, all the time, but it has allowed me some sober time to contemplate my future. To think clearly and make some informed decisions about what I really want from life and what I can give back. Which lead me to an uncanny event today...
I am a teacher. I have decided that I want a change and have resigned from my job. But before I leave I am incorporating some more obvious life lessons into my repertoire, so that the young people I teach can learn about consequences for their actions. It might not be popular, but what are they going to do, fire me?!
Last week our school got a complaint from a member of the public about some of our students behaving badly out and about. So today after school, I took them out to make amends. We met a lady who owns miniature horses and helped her out with some chores. You can probably guess what the chores were.
It turns out that this particular lady has a contract to run holiday programmes for under-privileged kids and she's offered me a job. I am going to be teaching them to sew and we are going to make things with recycled clothing. They are going to make things to sell at the market to earn money for themselves.
So my little outing has had so many positive outcomes that I could just burst! And I'll be showing up each morning to teach the children how to sew and run a small business, with a smile on my face and a spring in my step, because I won't be hungover!!!
Win:Win:Win
2.20.2020
2.16.2020
Sobriety - why?
Sobriety is something I have been thinking about for a while. I am 51 years old and have been drinking since I was 14 years old. This is a long time, and has seen various consequences in my life. I come from a long line of alcoholics, so I've seen the damage that alcohol can do to people; physically and emotionally.
But I didn't need to worry because my drinking was all about choice, until it wasn't. Well it sort of still was, but I couldn't be bothered to choose not to drink. And eventually I looked forward to it in the morning when I woke up. In the school holidays, sometimes I would start drinking at 11am. But not every day, because that was my choice.
When I was younger, sometimes my drinking made me antisocial, unsafe and obnoxious. But in the last 10 years or so it didn't anymore. I was choosing to drink and be sensible. I might talk too loud or dance on my own, sometimes I even did yoga, but I made the choice not to be antisocial anymore.
But addiction is a slippery slope. There are other things going on in my life but alcohol allowed me the choice not to deal with them. I was too busy thinking about drinking, planning drinking sessions, drinking, waking up at 4am feeling bad about my drinking and then in the morning hungover and regretting my drinking. Having another drink made me feel better, physically at least, and so the cycle started again.
I had made the choice to be a "high functioning alcoholic". It sounds so glamorous, so NOW. But then is was just a drag. So I may be having a mid-life crisis a bit later than some and it may have something to do with being on the wrong side of 50 and menopause. But now I am making the choice to be sober. I'm day 38 and there have been highs and lows, but I'm still going.
But I didn't need to worry because my drinking was all about choice, until it wasn't. Well it sort of still was, but I couldn't be bothered to choose not to drink. And eventually I looked forward to it in the morning when I woke up. In the school holidays, sometimes I would start drinking at 11am. But not every day, because that was my choice.
When I was younger, sometimes my drinking made me antisocial, unsafe and obnoxious. But in the last 10 years or so it didn't anymore. I was choosing to drink and be sensible. I might talk too loud or dance on my own, sometimes I even did yoga, but I made the choice not to be antisocial anymore.
But addiction is a slippery slope. There are other things going on in my life but alcohol allowed me the choice not to deal with them. I was too busy thinking about drinking, planning drinking sessions, drinking, waking up at 4am feeling bad about my drinking and then in the morning hungover and regretting my drinking. Having another drink made me feel better, physically at least, and so the cycle started again.
I had made the choice to be a "high functioning alcoholic". It sounds so glamorous, so NOW. But then is was just a drag. So I may be having a mid-life crisis a bit later than some and it may have something to do with being on the wrong side of 50 and menopause. But now I am making the choice to be sober. I'm day 38 and there have been highs and lows, but I'm still going.
linktr.ee
For some reason my linktr.ee doesn't work on Instagram anymore. So I'll put it here instead.
2.15.2020
Back to blogging
As I reacquaint myself with blogging, I am updating my profile below, from 11 years ago... (although much of it is still true).
I've been collecting treasures like a magpie since I was young, storing them in jars. I always had an interest for bits I found on trips; shells, sea glass + leaf skeletons. My jewelry + artworks has come about from a desire to use the things I've collected, as I feel it's vital to create something precious from those items as a tribute to the earth and its power + generosity. There's also a need in me to convert other people's trash into beautiful items so that recycling is occurring. This is seen in the pieces that use old copper toilet cisterns, electricity wire + smooth sea glass found on the New Zealand coast, glass which began as a bottle that someone threw into the sea. As long as I can remember I've had the need to create things. This is my therapy, as when my hands are busy my mind is calm, due to the focus that's required on the piece that's unfolding; A form of meditation that produces a treat at the end of it. Now I am working with flax, wire, beads, shells, sequins + pieces of 'junk' from my vast collection. I'm finding wire to be a great medium because it's so forgiving. If I'm not satisfied with a piece I can unwind it + begin again, this suits me just fine!
I've been collecting treasures like a magpie since I was young, storing them in jars. I always had an interest for bits I found on trips; shells, sea glass + leaf skeletons. My jewelry + artworks has come about from a desire to use the things I've collected, as I feel it's vital to create something precious from those items as a tribute to the earth and its power + generosity. There's also a need in me to convert other people's trash into beautiful items so that recycling is occurring. This is seen in the pieces that use old copper toilet cisterns, electricity wire + smooth sea glass found on the New Zealand coast, glass which began as a bottle that someone threw into the sea. As long as I can remember I've had the need to create things. This is my therapy, as when my hands are busy my mind is calm, due to the focus that's required on the piece that's unfolding; A form of meditation that produces a treat at the end of it. Now I am working with flax, wire, beads, shells, sequins + pieces of 'junk' from my vast collection. I'm finding wire to be a great medium because it's so forgiving. If I'm not satisfied with a piece I can unwind it + begin again, this suits me just fine!
8.04.2011
Jewels
This is a random photo not related to the topic at hand really but interesting all the same. It was my birthday yesterday and I got so many lovely wishes via text and on Facebook that I got to thinking that modern technology isn't making us more isolated but the opposite really. I don't care how many expensive gifts I get because the best gift of all is the knowledge that people are thinking of you, even for a moment. That's the thing that makes you feel special, loved and blessed. It doesn't cost a lot of money to show someone you care.
7.23.2011
7.16.2011
Yay, Im on holiday!
Yay, Im on holiday! Although I won't be at school when my new books arrive from Better World Books (they'll keep!), I am holiday and feeling relaxed already. Going to make jewellery, do some felting and visit family around the country. Bliss!!! Pictured are a couple of my latest pieces.
5.31.2011
Red leaf with ghost prints
I just saw an autumn leaf flutter gently down to the ground and it made me smile as I was driving home. I love the way that the most simple things can bring me joy! They cost nothing, they're unexpected but they have a lasting effect.
5.21.2011
I love the Internet - Yes even still!
This is another one of those "I love the Internet" moments. It is so nice to know that even though there is a lot of awful stuff on the Internet that it is also a vehicle for forging positive relationships, albeit long distance ones. This blog is a special thanks to Elizabeth Anne Norris for featuring me as her "Gem of the Day". Thanks so much to you Elizabeth, it means a lot! Please visit it at the link below.
http://eanjewellery.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/gem-of-the-day-renee-clothier/
http://eanjewellery.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/gem-of-the-day-renee-clothier/
5.07.2011
Visit this website please
Just got home from a lovely holiday with friends and family on the Sunshine Coast in Australia. I feel very fortunate to have such lovely people 'around' me and the financial ability to go to another conutry to visit them, oh and I have my health. I feel blessed!
Listened to Adele on the plane going over and highly recommend this album. Enjoy.
Also I'm featured here. Please call by and have a visit.
Jewelry Making Supplies
Listened to Adele on the plane going over and highly recommend this album. Enjoy.
Also I'm featured here. Please call by and have a visit.
Jewelry Making Supplies
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)