The Art of Recovery
From Darkness to Light: A 25-Year Journey of Sobriety, Self-Discovery, and Transformation
Over the years, I’ve often been asked, “How did you get here? How have you stayed sober for so long and become the person you are today?” As of this writing, I have 25.5 years of continuous sobriety, and I work as a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor.
My usual response is simple: “Hard work, facing my shadows, and always moving forward.” But I believe that answer only scratches the surface of the reality of recovery.
The truth is that my sobriety—my whole recovery—is fueled by a relentless desire to become the best version of myself that I can be, and the courage to discover where that self might lead. It is anchored in a clear memory of who I once was and a firm resolve never to return to that life. It requires a gritty, down-to-earth understanding of what sobriety truly demands: living day by day, moment by moment, step by step, trusting that the answers will come if you ask the right questions.
Recovery means going nose-first into the unknown, walking that path with humility and determination. And it means faith—faith in a higher power, faith in the process—which tells me that even in the heart of darkness, if I hold tight to my highest ideals and continually strive toward them, I will find my way.
My sobriety was hard-won. I spent years trying to find my sober footing, and in that struggle—before I was successful—I lost everything that ever mattered to me. It felt like a constant tug-of-war: one force pulling me back into the depths of alcoholism and addiction, the other fighting just as hard to pull me back out into the light.
Finally, in July of 2000, I broke completely free, and my recovery took hold. The years of heartache and “incomprehensible demoralization,” as it’s described in the program I’m deeply involved in, began to loosen their grip. In their place came a lighter way of living and being. Over time, my life experiences softened, and my entire existence changed for the better.
I firmly believe that one of the most profound discoveries of the past hundred years is this: a person can change their entire life by changing their mind about their life. And change my mind, I did.
I went from someone with absolutely no hope or faith in myself to someone with a grounded understanding of who I am and what I am capable of achieving. I made this transformation by doing the work—consistently, imperfectly, and honestly—and by facing myself as I was, trusting in something greater than myself, and choosing, again and again, to move forward, both in my life and in my recovery.
