“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.” – Harriet Tubman What recovery means to me is a chance for a new beginning. This new beginning is paired with strength, hope, grit, and tranquility from not using drugs. With the help of Narcotics Anonymous, I broke the chains of my addiction. Before I got clean I was living in this dark cold room under a shop. It was Christmas day, one of the darkest Christmas I had. No dinners or family, no friends, presents, or even anyone there for me. Isolated with nothing but my drugs. I was desolate inside, a shell of a human being. I had no family because I lost my mom to her addiction, and I felt so alone until I got into recovery. When I found Narcotics anonymous, I found my family. The people in Narcotics Anonymous loved me when I didn't love myself, and they continued to love me until I could learn to love myself. Today I am in school for a SUPD degree, and I have a wonderful job working in a treatment center. I give back to my community by helping other addicts stay clean, and volunteering with a local non-profit that feeds the homeless. Recovery is my life, and without it, I would be dead, institutionalized, or incarcerated. Recovery is life or death to me.