I wake up early before the world stirs from slumber. My mind is already focused on the day ahead, on the people who rely on Colusa County Recovery, the digital support platform I founded in 2020.
It’s not about me. It’s about them. The ones battling addiction, the ones who have embraced a new way of living. The ones who need a lifeline, and a recovery ally.
I log in and immerse myself in the online realm of recovery. I respond to messages, phone texts to our support line, posts, and emails from people who are struggling, from people who are finding hope. I offer support, I share my own experiences, and recommend resources and meetings to empower them.
I know what it’s like to be in their shoes. I’ve been there myself. I remember the darkness, the despair, the feeling of being lost and alone. I remember the cravings, the relapses, the shame, but I also remember the moment I decided to change. The moment I realized that I didn’t have to live this way anymore. The moment I asked for help was when my healing began.
It wasn’t easy. There were challenges along the way, but I never gave up. And now, I’m here to help others find their way out of the darkness.
I know that recovery is possible. I know that there is hope.
I'm not a miracle worker. I don't have a magic wand that can make people change. But I can offer them support, guidance, resources, and a listening ear. I can be a beacon of hope in the darkness.
On Tuesdays, I drive to Colusa County Department of Probation, and park in front of their Day Reporting Center. There, I meet with a group of peers on probation who are also in recovery. We talk about our challenges, our triumphs, our fears. We support each other. I see the hope in their eyes. I see the determination in their hearts. I know they can make it. I know they can overcome addiction. I believe in them.
I'm no hero. I'm just a HOPE addict, who wants to make a difference.
My work is far from glamorous. It's not always easy, but it is rewarding.
The online recovery-support groups I started with a few friends and volunteers, now support over 18,300 sweet souls, a testament to the power of recovery. Every day, we see lives changed. Every day, we see people find hope.
That is why I do what I do.
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