This piece is what it used to be like both when I blacked out and when I woke up with a hangover. The whole world through a small opening which seemed to intensify everything, the small opening closing around itself.  Small portal slowly opening up letting in the world at a heightened level, slowly letting in light, noise, smell, and feeling. Having to take a bit to assess the situation, where am I? I look at this to remind myself why I am sober, why I dont want to feel that way again. A reminder of how much better it is for me to be aware of my days, to be present. Sometimes being sober is a hard thing for me but, life is better being present for it.

Acrylic on canvas. paint has a mixture of salt giving it a gritty texture around the edges of white. Hang this in a room with access to daylight and different color lights at night.

painting and poem by Joshua Browder