RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE FOR ALL
I RECOVER OUTLOUD BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE DYING IN SILENCE
If there weren’t overwhelming challenges in life then we’d never know how truly strong we can stand.
Resilience is gained not given….
I was born and raised in the incredible landscapes of the USA…
My journey as a photographer was birthed through an adventurous childhood spent traveling, camping and exploring the great outdoors with my family. My dad was a pilot in the US Coast Guard and my mom was a Registered Nurse. My family frequently relocated around the country due to my dad’s job and my parents always made every move quite an expedition for my whole family. Long road trips were never hurried and instead my family spent many nights around a campfire in the great national and state parks this beautiful country offers. My cross-country family travels gifted myself and my siblings a backyard of stunning coastlines, grand mountains, endless pine forests, and even misty bayous.
Family…
It was my dad, a skilled photographer, who gifted me a desire to see the world through the lens of a camera. Growing up in a household where cameras were an inseparable part of the family's explorations, I knew I wanted to follow in my dad’s photography footsteps. I didn’t realize it in my youth, but later in life I would draw from these childhood experiences as a powerful source of spiritual healing. I remain eternally grateful to both my parents for never giving up on me and for passing to me a great love for travel, a deep connection with nature and humanity, and most importantly the relationship with God that ultimately saved my life.
Never give up…
I faced many challenges growing up, grappling with anxiety, depression and a substance use disorder. After many years and many painful consequences, I was finally able to stop my harmful substance use with the loving support of a peer-based recovery program, but I still suffered immensely with depression and anxiety. It was in a moment of great darkness and desperation that I sought a source of deeper spiritual healing. Through a reconnection to nature, I was finally on the right path. It was there in the vastness of the great outdoors that I not only restored the peace of my childhood, but I also finally found a space to feel close to God. Nature became my sanctuary, and I strengthened my vital spiritual relationship with God by immersing myself in the calm embrace of mother nature.
Keep Growing…
Over time, my love for taking pictures transformed into a contemplative practice of mindful photography. I began to realize that photography was more than just a hobby or a distraction - it was a means of expression that allowed me to explore emotions, reflect on experiences, and find more meaning and purpose in my journey towards sobriety. Through this contemplative practice I began to gain clarity in life by slowing down and capturing the simple beauty that surrounds us all, but often goes unnoticed. This became a healing meditative practice, allowing me to be fully present in the moment and helping me to detach from negative thoughts. Through my lens, I found the power of changing perspective to be the core of all spiritual growth. Pain and suffering only existed in my inability to see problems differently. Just as a different angle through the camera lens could completely change an image, a shift in perspective could almost always give a better outlook on perceived problems.
Seek Purpose…
As my journey in recovery grew, I also followed my passion to travel and I began to give of my time volunteering in other countries. My dad gifted me a love for photography, but my career path followed my mom and I became a Registered Nurse. Using my critical care skills and knowledge I found deep meaning in volunteering on medical projects around the world and I also developed a great love for wildlife conservation projects as well. With my camera in hand and my heart leading the way, I have been blessed to connect with the most amazing people in many different countries who have all come together to impact humanity and wildlife for the better.
Find Your Voice…
In addition, I also harnessed the power of photography to raise awareness and voice my concerns about important social and environmental issues. Using my pictures and experiences I started a recovery magazine in NY as a powerful tool for resources, activism, and education. I began shining a light on injustices related to lack of mental health and substance use disorder treatment as well as high levels of incarceration and stigma surrounding these disorders. My work, along with an amazing recovery community filled with other voices, has inspired change in the community through sharing real stories of recovery and offering resources to those in need.
Give Back to Others
Today, as a certified peer recovery specialist I have made it my mission to share the healing power of art and photography with others who are struggling on their own pathway of recovery. Through workshops and support groups, I teach individuals to use the meditative power of art and mindful photography to navigate life's challenges and find inner peace. My hope is by sharing my own personal journey without shame I can inspire others to see the light through the darkness and show that positive outcomes can be found even in the most difficult of circumstances. My desire to give back and help others is realized through volunteering my time to recovery community outreach organizations and donating my photography to various nonprofits. I am blessed to have my images help raise funds and bring about awareness for causes close to my heart, empowering others to heal and grow through the expression of self through art.
Recovery is a Journey…
In the ever-changing landscapes of life, I continue to explore and capture the beauty that surrounds us, using art and photography as a means of connection, healing, and transformation. Through my lens, I remain aware that each moment is an opportunity for growth, and every challenge that is overcome has the potential for a powerful story of recovery and resilience. I have an abundance of gratitude for the opportunity to share my photography and my journey with others. I am thankful to God for blessing me with the skills and experience to help others who may be struggling with harmful substance use or other mental health challenges. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to find their own pathway toward healing and recovery, and to discover the transformative power and connection of creativity and self-expression through photography and all other forms of art.
Nora Milligan Critical Care RN, CARC, CPRS, CRAFT
Nora Milligan is a woman in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder and the loving parent of a young man in recovery as well. With years of abstinence based recovery and extensive recovery coach/peer specialist training, she is well informed and supports all pathways of recovery, including harm reduction approaches. She is a passionate public speaker and frequently shares her story of recovery with families, community members, legislators, schools, treatment centers, and jails to decrease stigma and show others that recovery is possible for all. Today Nora resides in Virginia and stays very active in her recovery community. She offers individual and family recovery coaching and especially enjoys sharing her stress reduction methods based in mindful photography and art. She offers free workshops to nonprofit organizations and the community and will soon be bringing a new recovery resource magazine to the Richmond area. To get in touch please use the ‘contact’ button bellow.
For inquiries please Contact Me