Symbol of recovery at against all odds
Alba Iulia is the town my mother chose to reboot our lives 2 years ago. The citadel park of the city is the place where she takes long strolls to quiet her thoughts, to enjoy the sun, the plants and the chirp of the beautifully colored birds from there.
I thought of following her steps hoping to find something relevant for the topic of my digipack (burnout recovery): a cherry tree defying all odds and growing out of the fortified wall of the citadel. Exactly like my mother: blooming regardless the sacrifices assumed. Both of them, the tree and my Mom, are winners!
I decided to make this photo part of the promotional logo posted on the Instagram page.
Therapy with PETS
Since the beginning of her new life chapter, away from the hectic professional career in big corporations, my mother adopted several cats and dogs which charge her with all the affection and energy needed for the emotional recovery.
As in Philip Pullman fantasy trilogies “His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust.”, these pets are like Dæmons, i.e. the external physical manifestation of her “inner-self”. There is always at least one Dæmon with her all the time. My pictures and filming needed to grasp this reality for the audience.
Therapy through outdoor activities
Trekking has always been the most exciting way to spend her free time. For the last 10 6 years of her very demanding jobs, this activity became a simple memory.
Once she regained control over her life and overcame the back pain, trekking became the new norm of her free time.
Physical Therapy
The long hours spent in front of the computers for so many years resulted in chronic lower back pain and neck pain. It took 3 months of Pilates and fitness workout, 5 days a week, to make her body functional again. Hence, documenting her physical therapy was a must for my project.
