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 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!