What does recovery mean to you? Recovery means living the life I was meant to live and being the man that I was destined to be.

What helped you most in your recovery? In the early days of my recovery setting goals for myself to originally not have a drink for a year made it seem really doable for me. The reality after only a couple of months was that a year was not going to be enough and that alcohol and me needed a more permanent separation!

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? If you're struggling to hold it together my recommendation is to find a hobby and work it to the bone! Idle hands are the devils playground!

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery has meant a process of change through which people improve their health and wellness, live self-directed lives, and strive to reach their full potential.

What helped you most in your recovery? What has helped me most in my Recovery is seeing clearly that it is a lifelong Journey and lifestyle. My Mentors and Peers (My Sober Community) have played a huge role in me staying focused and realizing that I’m not alone. Also, my new coping skills and tools that I have learned, have been key to me maturing in my Sobriety! Just know that everyone has a story that needs to be told/heard to continue to heal.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? To someone who is struggling in Recovery, my message would be that you are stronger than your temptation, just try get through the day because you are capable of achieving anything. I would advise them to continue to go to meetings that they’re comfortable with, and to reach out to someone else in the Community if they’re at their wits end, because we’re all in this together and you’re worth it!!!

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery is everything to me, because in alcoholism I lost friends, a girlfriend, and did a lot of questionable things that possibly could have got me killed. I get to enjoy life now without always passing out, getting sick, or even getting stranded places.

What helped you most in your recovery? The things that have helped me most in recovery and that I'm thankful for are the PHP and IOP that I attended also volunteering at Chris' Corner. Finally I have a sense of belonging for the first time in a long time. I love my community.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? If you are struggling, don't give up but "surrender" (if that makes sense) in the sense that you have to admit powerlessness and realize you have a problem before you can go forward. It's not easy, it takes a village, but your village is here. We have all been through it, and know you are a warrior battling addiction. If recovery wasn't so great, we wouldn't brag and praise it as much as we do.

What does recovery mean to you? Sobriety Is the First Step. Recovery wouldn’t be possible without sobriety. If you had told me a little over three years ago that quitting drinking would be the easy part, I wouldn’t have believed you. But now I know—it was. The hard part was facing the reasons why I drank. That’s where the healing began. And healing is where recovery truly starts. Recovery has brought me sanity, peace, and serenity.

What helped you most in your recovery? Faith and Fellowship. What helped me most was connecting with a power greater than myself - who I choose to call God. I believe God speaks through people, and having a fellowship has been a true blessing. I like to say I have: a large fellowship, a medium-sized tribe, and a small group of close friends. All of them are sober. Being surrounded by sobriety helped me stay strong and overcome the desire to drink. These like-minded people remind me that I’m never alone. I couldn’t do this by myself—but together, we can.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? If you’re dealing with substance use or just starting recovery, here’s what I’ve learned: Get connected and stay connected with people who’ve been where you are and have what you want. Join a program—whether it’s a 12-step group, SMART Recovery, or a PHP/IOP. -that’s where you’ll learn the tools to take it One Day at a Time. And it’s very important to focus on your mental health. I live with co-occurring disorders (substance use and mental health), and it was very tough at first. But therapy and joining a mental health IOP changed my life. Keep Going. Today, I can handle life when it gets “lifey.” I’ve learned to go easy on myself, show myself grace, and trust the process. Acceptance is the key to all my problems today. And never forget— It gets greater, later. ❤

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery means to me is having a clear piece of mind to think through difficult things in life that we all face.

What helped you most in your recovery? What helped me the most in recovery was focusing on one thing at a time. So, the "the one day at a time" is real.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? My message for someone struggling would be to stay focused one day at a time and think about how good we feel that every day goes by we stay sober. Also important, is go to meetings and make friends.

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery means to me that changes can and will happen one day at a time. Trusting the processing and having faith in something bigger than yourself will lead you to your own journey.

What helped you most in your recovery? Working with someone else, healing my inner child and staying connected to people in the program of action has helped me in my recovery the most.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? It doesn't matter your background, recovery is a process of one day at a time to rebuild yourself and to be the best version of yourself. It takes time so give yourself the best gift of life, your true self.

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery for me is a way of life, that has saved my life. The cycles of addiction I was stuck in for most of my life, were full of pain, suffering, and damage. Through Recovery, I have found a purpose that puts me in a daily position, to be a morally sound adult, to make good choices, to be empathetic, and to be constantly working on myself, and my recovery.

What helped you most in your recovery? The love and support from the wonderful people in recovery, and those that work in this field. Without the guidance, and suggestions I have received from so many awesome human beings, organizations and counselors, I really don't know where I would be.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? In a very short period, Recovery can help you to undo past damage, heal emotionally, and either get back your life, or even better, assist you in actually having a life, second to none. The miracle of Recovery is that in a short period you can miraculously turn it around, and undo years of pain and suffering. There is a solution, and if you can find it in you to surrender, and seek out the help you need so desperately, you will become another Miracle of Recovery, come join us..

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery to me is freedom. Before I got sober My life was about fear of change and pretty much fear of everything. Initially drinking took the fear away but in the end it returned worse than ever. I struggled at first believing that I was too young to be sober but then I found people my age and younger who were in recovery and the journey began. It seemed slow at first but I was learning how not to drink but after a while of working thru the fear via a 12 step program my world began open up and amazing things started happening. I felt OK everyday which was a miracle in itself and in remaining sober the world opened up. My career took off and soon after I met the person that I would spend my life with. Fast forward 40 years and I’m looking at retirement, world travel and a life that is fairly peaceful. I am still active in my recovery and could not have imagined the life I have back when I was 25.

What helped you most in your recovery? The most helpful thing in my recovery was people who pushed me to change and instilled the belief that I could do anything as long as I didn’t pick up a drink.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? For folks struggling…Find your people. People who will be brutally honest, brutally loving and who are positive. No matter what happens, Do not Stop trying. You will get there, not always on the first try but you can do this.

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery means I enjoy life. My “yes” means “yes” and my “no” means "no". Recovery allows me to make healthy choices for me and those who are close to me. I am able to help others by moving out of selfish thinking and considering how I can serve others (both those in and out of recovery).

What helped you most in your recovery? Fellowship. Without the fellowship of those who came before me, I would not have been able to remain in recovery. Talking with selfless others who freely give their time to help me to heal is irreplaceable. Allowing me to learn by walking with others and learning to laugh again with those who came before me is the most priceless gift of my life.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? Keep showing up for help (whatever that mean for you)! For me, it means attendance at meetings, having a home group, having a job within that home group, having a sponsor, calling my sponsor, working the steps out of the Big Book, changing people, places and things whenever necessary, having a Plan B when needed, taking my own car to be able to exit an event if needed. Ask for help, you will be helping someone else by doing that. Find a Higher Power, ask others about their Higher Power. H.O.W. (Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness). Read literature, and listen to learn. Meeting - time and places are available online.

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery has given me a life I never could have imagined, I get to be present in people's lives everyday instead of numbing myself. 

What helped you most in your recovery? One of the best things Recovery has given me is people who understand and support me unconditionally, my Recovery community always shows up for me.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? The thing I would tell anyone who is struggling is that you are not alone, we are here for you and that there's always hope. I was hopeless in 2017, my life spiraling out of control and so alone, now I carry my message of hope to anyone that needs it. A beautiful journey one day at a time that I will share with anyone 😊

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery means freedom, control, and peace. I have all the freedom in the world - no restrictions, no considerations, nothing. I moved across the country in 2022 (I just got too sick of shoveling nine months out of the year), and there’s no way I would have been able to do that if I was still drinking. I have control over my life - I don’t plan any and every activity over if there will be drinking, if I’ll need to bring my own booze, how drunk can I get at a family function without being disowned, again, by my mom. And peace - life isn’t always great, and I’ve gone through one of the worst times in my life while sober. The thought of drinking during those weeks didn’t even cross my mind. I knew, no matter how miserable and devastated I was, that drinking wouldn’t make it better. It wouldn’t put the pieces of my life back together - I had to do that on my own. Life will always have its ups and downs, but I no longer live in complete chaos.

What helped you most in your recovery? Alcoholic Anonymous saved my life, specifically young people’s AA (YPAA). I was 24 when I got sober - I had zero people in my life that were alcoholics, and knew absolutely nothing about AA. I thought it was for a bunch of “old” people talking about how they “lost the business” due to their drinking, and that I wouldn’t be able to relate to anything and it was pointless. At age 24, I had resigned myself to spending every night on the couch, alone, as I was convinced I was the youngest person to ever get sober. I’m so incredibly happy that that is the farthest thing from the truth. YPAA is for those who are “young at heart”, so there’s no age limit, but it definitely has a lot of younger people. I met people that have become my lifelong best friends, and my social life was more active than ever with the amount of events and trips I partook in, coupled with no longer being too hungover and canceling plans.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? Sober’s better. Drugs and alcohol can be great, but only temporarily. The next day, all your problems are still the same, if not worse. And sometimes, there isn’t a “next day”. Ask for help. There is a solution.

What does recovery mean to you? Recovery is more than everything. It is Life! Recovery is a chance to create a meaningful life. A chance to have a clear mind, free of our vices so we can make good choices that lead to a better future.

What helped you most in your recovery? The people and the community have been a pillar for my recovery but most importantly, keeping an open mind, listening and doing the work day by day has kept this train going (walking the walk). And it is worth it! Every minute! Even the "bad" times/days I can make good because I can but only in a sober state of mind. 

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? Something that I've Iearned early is to keep fighting. No matter what. Just keep trying until you get it. You'll learn that your stronger than you know and when you do nothing will be able to stop you from being Great! And that is NOT cliche. 

What does recovery mean to you? I take care of myself and my recovery by practicing prayer and meditation to stay grounded and focused. I regularly attend meetings to stay connected and accountable, and I do service work to give back. Helping the next person, just as others have helped me, reminds me why I stay committed to my recovery.

What helped you most in your recovery? What gives me hope today is seeing people come into recovery broken and then watching the light come back in their eyes as they rebuild their lives and reconnect with their families. Witnessing their growth reminds me that change is always possible and keeps me motivated to continue my own journey.

What message do you have for someone who is struggling? Recovery has changed my life in so many ways. Before I got clean, I felt lonely and isolated, struggled to keep jobs, was often in trouble with the police, and carried a lot of shame and guilt. Through this process, I’ve learned to love myself and the people around me. I’ve gotten my license back after not driving for five years, I’ve been able to hold a steady job, and I now have amazing relationships with the people in my life. Recovery has given me a life I’m proud of and grateful for.