I am a huge fan of the artist Banksy. With images like the one at the beginning of this post, he reflects every indescribably dehumanizing aspect of consumerism with disarming humor. His work invokes an emotion, a depth of understanding, that make words a clumsy vehicle in comparison. And his anonymity, his use of public spaces for his work, his humor, and his compassion, make him … us.
The question is often asked, “Who is Banksy?”
Who is Banksy?
Banksy is me.
My 14-year-old son who is studying art, introduced me to Banksy. I first introduced my son to the power of art through picture books, and one of my favorite picture books to read to him when he was very young was called I’m as Quick as a Cricket. The illustrations were beautiful and the message was simple…
I am everything… everything is in nature … I reflect to it and it reflects to me
and that is the beauty of being whole, of being human….
I am quick as a cricket,
I’m a slow as a snail ,
I’m as hot as a fox,
I’m as big as a whale.
As the host of the community behind this blog, I could be accused of being the kind of person that Banksy describes in this famous quote
“There’s nothing more dangerous than someone who wants to make the world a better place.”
― Banksy
But the point with the Boozemusings blog and the BOOM Community is not “making the world a better place” the point is giving as many people as I can reach, the opportunity to take back that natural world of the senses that we may have had a brief opportunity to thrive in as children before we were sold a million possible avenues to numb. In order to reach out, I have to actively market a sort of counter-culture to drinking culture.
I think that the best way to counteract the rampant marketing of addiction is to market sobriety as a positive counter-culture. Marketing sobriety is important and positive because so many people have been sucked into the marketing of the health benefits of moderate drinking. So many people are drinking habitually to dangerous levels because of the rampant alcohol is good for you, Alcohol is ESSENTIAL, campaigns.
As part of my counter-culture marketing campaign, I’ve been coming up with images with slogans, and memes, and promoting carefully selected posts to help bring attention to our community and what we have to say.
Social media and blogging. Internet graffiti.
These slogans and memes are not for commercial promotion because we are a decidedly non-commercial community. But they are promotions nonetheless. I am not selling a product but a possibility. I’m promoting an idea to leave a trail of breadcrumbs for people to find us.
My ” slogans” this week have been about empowerment, choice, and free thought.
Since I stopped drinking five years ago, empowerment, choice, and free thought have been unexpectedly key elements of this sober thing for me. I think that for the many people out there who feel chained to the bottle, drowning in the frustration of feeling they need to drink, reaching for empowerment is important. Withdrawal is about healing. It is difficult. It is a roller coaster of emotions. But it is a roller coaster of emotions that will take you in a positive direction, to get back to becoming you. Being, living, growing, learning, feeling, fully you.
The journey from numb to vibrantly alive.
Nothing changes if nothing changes. Hope lies in the fact that one gets another opportunity as the seasons of one’s discontent circle around for another pass. ….. Perhaps all I can do is stay steadfast in my commitment to that part of me so long ignored and pushed aside for the sake of immediate gratification. For within that commitment lies my hope for both myself and you.
from Hope
The alcohol industry targets those of us who are enviably high functioning but teetering on the brink. Those of us who have money to spend and can buy 5 bottles of whiskey, or vodka, or a case of wine every week. We are the bread and butter of the alcohol industry. We are the ones who will die for a drink –
Alcohol-Related Deaths are up 100% in Twenty years. Alcohol-related deaths have DOUBLED since the turn of the century.
Because of stuff like this
Nine charts that show how white women are drinking themselves to death
that is partly caused by stuff like this
For women, heavy drinking has been normalized. That’s dangerous.
In the words of my favorite children’s story, this makes me
LOUD AS A LION!
FIGHT BACK !
Think for Yourself-
Break the Status Quo-
You do not Have to Drink.
“One Original Thought is worth 1000 Meaningless Quotes.”
― Banksy
WHO ARE WE?
Online Community Support to Stop Drinking – BOOM!
If you’re “sober curious” …If you are drinking too much too often and want to stop or take a break… Talk to Us.
We are an independent, anonymous and private community who share resources, support and talk it through every day. It helps to have a community behind you in a world where alcohol is the only addictive drug that people will question you for NOT using
More From The Boozemusings Community Blog :
