We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. - Winston Churchill My name is Seija and I am a grateful...

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, addiction rates have skyrocketed, threatening an already taxed health care system and causing added...

When I was about twenty-seven, I bought myself a purity ring. It was quaint and had tiny words etched in cursive like “I am pure” and...

I am a woman in long-term recovery from a substance use disorder and what that means to me is I have been drug and alcohol free since May...

I am sitting on my porch, expansive mountain range in view. The light filters on a few of the mountaintops, with shadows on others....

What would it look like today if I leaned in to my struggles? What would it feel like to face my challenges head on? How would my life...

To me, the words “finding freedom in recovery and life” mean more now than ever as we enter this month of July where we celebrate our...

For me, July means fireworks and barbecues and smells like corn on the cob and strawberry short cake. It’s a time to gather with family,...

This month, as we explore what it means to find freedom in recovery and in life, Shelly Dutch shares a few words on what freedom in...

For me, shame is hiding in the dark. It is wondering about my place in the world and never feeling good enough to be taking up the space...

I recently celebrated one year of sobriety, as well as my 40th birthday. Both of these milestones allowed me to reflect and exhale. This...

There is an interesting book on the craft of writing called, “Writing Tools.” In it, Roy Peter Clark talks about how even in serious...

Recovery is a personal journey and that journey extends to family as well. Yes, I’m in recovery but I also have to remember that my...

One of the many things I love about recovery is that for many, helping others is about sharing our experience, strength and hope. It’s...

Family means everything to me. Not sure where I would be without mine. When I was first released from prison and early in my recovery,...

When I was in my teens and early twenties, I didn't know this was true: it's okay to not be okay. The feeling that something was wrong...

"My recovery family is everything to me! It's the piece in sobriety that fills my soul and makes me feel whole. They lift me up if I'm...

My recovery family today is a super dysfunctional crew of highly functional folks who show me by example that life is better when it's...

A few brush strokes here a few there. Often these days, a blank canvas sits waiting. That's how my creativity seems to be going these...

I have been an artist all of my life. Drawing was my first comfort zone. I could escape into this form of creativity and painted pictures...