I am currently 4 months sober and have decided to go back to school for the first time in 16 years. Since being sober, I have challenged myself to stay the course. Life isn’t easy, but it is way better. I was tired of being homeless, and associating with people who didn’t care about me. It was time for a change. Life isn’t perfect today, but it is drastically better. I get to feel my emotions today, and I am grateful for that. I get to meet people and support them on their journey of recovery. I feel excited about life and going back to school. I am aware that the journey will take work. I will continue my learning about the mind, body, and spirit, so that I may write things that impact others. I enjoy studying and participating in holistic healing as well. I have found sound healing, yoga, meditation, and the use of herbs to be vital in my recovery journey. I plan to continue learning about these things and incorporating them into my study of psychology and journalism. I hope to be able to inspire others by these expressions. I seek healing and satisfaction in gratitude and simple pleasures. I hope that my understanding of myself now and in the future will be an asset that I can share with others. I always remember that “this too shall pass”. Feelings go away, and every day sober is a step towards achieving health and happiness long-term.

I am currently 4 months sober and have decided to go back to school for the first time in 16 years. I recently entered treatment after doing a month and a half in jail. I had done something I never thought I would. I used drugs while I was pregnant and gave birth while I was in jail. I spent a week in the hospital with my son before putting him up for adoption. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I knew if I had tried to keep him he might be placed with my family and be at risk of being sexually abused like my daughter was. I also knew I had to continue working to try to get my daughter safe, so I decided that he would be better cared for with someone else. Since being sober, I have challenged myself to stay the course. Life isn’t easy, but it is way better. I was tired of the emotional hole I was digging. I was tired of putting myself in dangerous situations, and the anger never getting better. I was tired of being homeless, and associating with people who didn’t care about me. It was time for a change. Life isn’t perfect today, but it is drastically better. I wake up ready to face the day. I feel content and excited. I feel sad and angry sometimes, but it is not my overall attitude, like it was before. I get to feel my emotions today, and I am grateful for that. I get to meet people and support them on their journey of recovery. I feel excited about life and going back to school. I am aware that the journey will take work. I will have to balance school and recovery. I will continue to practice self-care, but today I get to be present and encourage others along the way. I would like to continue my learning about the mind, body, and spirit, so that I may write things that impact others. I enjoy studying and participating in holistic healing as well. I have found sound healing, yoga, meditation, and the use of herbs to be vital in my recovery journey. I plan to continue learning about these things and incorporating them into my study of psychology and journalism. I hope to be able to inspire others by these expressions. I have learned that there is something different about the addicts brain. We respond with craving, while others don’t. I have learned that often it is trauma in our childhood that made it difficult for us to experience pleasure like others. This craving makes us different. Most of us also found drugs or alcohol before our brains had even fully developed. We never gave ourselves a natural chance to heal. I keep these things in mind as I recover. I stay aware that it will take up to two years for the brain to produce the pleasure hormones normally, and I seek healing and satisfaction in gratitude and simple pleasures. I hope that my understanding of myself now and in the future will be an asset that I can share with others. I plan to work with a sponsor and do the spiritual work of the 12 steps. One day I hope to pass that on by sponsoring others, and using my journalism degree to share my knowledge. I always remember that “this too shall pass”. Feelings go away, and every day sober is a step towards achieving health and happiness long-term.

I am currently 4 months sober and have decided to go back to school for the first time in 16 years. I recently entered treatment after doing a month and a half in jail. I had done something I never thought I would. I used drugs while I was pregnant and gave birth while I was in jail. I spent a week in the hospital with my son before putting him up for adoption. This was one of the hardest decisions of my life, but I knew if I had tried to keep him he might be placed with my family and be at risk of being sexually abused like my daughter was. I also knew I had to continue working to try to get my daughter safe, so I decided that he would be better cared for with someone else. Since being sober, I have challenged myself to stay the course. Life isn’t easy, but it is way better. I was tired of the emotional hole I was digging. I was tired of putting myself in dangerous situations, and the anger never getting better. I was tired of being homeless, and associating with people who didn’t care about me. It was time for a change. Life isn’t perfect today, but it is drastically better. I wake up ready to face the day. I feel content and excited. I feel sad and angry sometimes, but it is not my overall attitude, like it was before. I get to feel my emotions today, and I am grateful for that. I get to meet people and support them on their journey of recovery. I feel excited about life and going back to school. I am aware that the journey will take work. I will have to balance school and recovery. I will continue to practice self-care, but today I get to be present and encourage others along the way. I would like to continue my learning about the mind, body, and spirit, so that I may write things that impact others. I enjoy studying and participating in holistic healing as well. I have found sound healing, yoga, meditation, and the use of herbs to be vital in my recovery journey. I plan to continue learning about these things and incorporating them into my study of psychology and journalism. I hope to be able to inspire others by these expressions. I have learned that there is something different about the addicts brain. We respond with craving, while others don’t. I have learned that often it is trauma in our childhood that made it difficult for us to experience pleasure like others. This craving makes us different. Most of us also found drugs or alcohol before our brains had even fully developed. We never gave ourselves a natural chance to heal. I keep these things in mind as I recover. I stay aware that it will take up to two years for the brain to produce the pleasure hormones normally, and I seek healing and satisfaction in gratitude and simple pleasures. I hope that my understanding of myself now and in the future will be an asset that I can share with others. I plan to work with a sponsor and do the spiritual work of the 12 steps. One day I hope to pass that on by sponsoring others, and using my journalism degree to share my knowledge. I always remember that “this too shall pass”. Feelings go away, and every day sober is a step towards achieving health and happiness long-term.