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From YouTube: Celebrate Recovery 2019
Description
This year’s National Recovery Month theme is “Join the Voices for Recovery: Together We Are Stronger,” and invites individuals in recovery to share their personal stories and successes to encourage others. It aims to increase awareness and foster public understanding and acceptance of the benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery from behavioral health conditions.
The event was recorded at Busboys & Poets in Arlington VA on Sept. 25 2019. Sponsored by Arlington County’s Behavioral Healthcare Division and Arlington
County’s Peer Recovery Center, and Arlington Peers Helping Peers in Recovery.
C
B
Good
evening,
everyone,
my
name,
is
Elizabeth
shuck,
Talley
and
I
am
the
wellness
and
recovery
manager
at
the
behavioral
health
care
division
on
behalf
of
the
behavioral
health
care
division
and
the
Department
of
Human
Services,
along
with
peers,
helping
peers
and
recovery.
I
would
like
to
welcome
you
all
to
this
very
special
program.
As
we
celebrate
national
recovery
month,
thanks
Rick,
thanks
for
being
here
so.
B
C
A
A
This
is
one
of
my
favorite
nights
of
the
year
because
we
get
to
hear
some
very
personal
journeys,
some
very
personal
stories
poems
sometimes
even
songs
from
people
who
have
been
challenged
by
serious
mental
illness
or
substance
use
disorder,
and
we
know
that
in
the
world
today
there
is.
There
are
so
many
challenges
and
there
are
there's
a
lot
of
stigma
and.
A
Is
a
hopeful
night,
a
night
where
we
hear
stories
of
recovery,
where
we
celebrate
that
people
have
overcome
and
continue
to
work,
to
overcome,
much
pain,
much
adversity,
but
have
found
inspiration,
hope,
dignity,
life,
joy,
happiness
along
the
way
and
we
celebrate
them.
We
celebrate
those
experiences.
A
Now
mr.
Dorsey
here
knows
that
I
tend
to
speak
nice,
my
opinions,
no,
no,
no,
no,
but
I
just
want
to
say
how
much
admiration
I
have
for
mr.
Dorsey
and
from
Miss
crystal
who's
here
in
the
room,
because
these
are
too
you
know
we
tend
to
think
of
politicians
and
politicians.
You
know-
and
we
hear
all
this
stuff.
A
These
are
not
your
ordinary
politicians,
okay,
these
are
Arlington
Ian's,
who
have
risen
to
the
very
high
responsibilities
of
being
our
County
Board,
which
is
a
tremendous
responsibility
and
a
tremendous
amount
of
work,
and
they
take
it
so
seriously
and
they
have
so
many
big
challenges
on
their
shoulders
and
they
lead
us
towards
a
better
Arlington.
You
know
and
I
was
so
delighted.
I'll
just
put
a
plug
in
I'm,
sorry
that
this
past
weekend
the
County
Board
voted
five
to
zero
to
adopt
an
equity
resolution
for
Arlington.
A
D
That's
great:
it's
it's
very
great
to
be
here
this
evening,
I'd
like
to
thank
Katie
crystal
for
being
the
board
member
most
involved
with
putting
on
this
event
and
it's
great
to
see,
delegate
Patrick
Hulk
in
the
47th
district
here,
as
well
as
many
people
that
have
had
an
opportunity
to
work
with
and
will
continue
to
work
with
on
various
community
issues.
This
is
a
really
special
event
within
a
very
special
month.
D
D
D
Is
a
stigma
where
people
are
ostracized
are
made
to
be
considered
less
than
instead
of
our
country
recognizing
what
is
truly
before
them
that
people
who
have
been
through
the
depths
of
despair,
who
are
now
walking
a
path
of
hope
and
happiness
and
wellness?
These
are
people
who
need
to
be
celebrated.
This
needs
not
to
be
something
that
we
keep
behind
closed
doors.
E
C
D
I
am
very
thankful
for
everyone
who
was
out
here
tonight
who
will
share
their
testimony,
who
will
share
their
stories
and
inspire
us
I'm,
very
thankful
for
Arlington's
Behavioral,
Health
Division
for
committing
itself
so
earnestly
to
this
work
in
making
sure
this
is
a
goal
that
has
never
ever
put
on
the
back
burner
but
its
front
and
center
in
what
we
prioritize
in
making
Arlington
a
great
community
and
speaking
of
equity.
Since
you
brought
it
up,
miss
Freeman.
D
One
of
the
reasons
why
this
was
so
important
to
me-
and
my
colleagues
like
Katie
crystal-
is
that
we
want
to
actually
make
sure
each
each
and
I
mean
that
each
and
every
Arlington
ian
is
not
just
considered
someone
who
matters
in
rhetoric,
but
actually
matters
and
the
things
that
we
do.
So
when
we
think
about
the
many.
D
Ian's,
who
are
traveling
on
the
road
to
recovery,
we
want
to
be
active
agents
of
helping
you
through
that
helping
you
continue
on
that
journey
so
that
you
can
achieve
the
success,
health
and
happiness
that
you
so
very
well
deserved.
So
thank
you
very
much.
I
am
happy
to
actually
turn
the
mic
over
to
whom
I
do
not
know
all
right,
I'm
going
to
turn
the
mic
back
over
to.
B
B
The
behavioral
healthcare
division
at
Arlington
County
provides
comprehensive
mental
health
and
substance
use
services
to
adult
residents
of
Arlington
County,
which
includes
case
management,
therapy,
emergency
and
psychiatric
services,
and
much
much
more.
Please
see
the
back
of
your
program
to
access
our
services,
and
there
are
some
brochures
also
back
on
the
table.
B
The
center
is
run
by
peers
or
people
who
have
lived
experience
with
mental
health
or
substance
use
disorders.
The
center
helps
provide
people
who
helps
people
overcome
challenges
in
a
welcoming
supportive
environment
that
emphasizes
recovery.
This
service
complements
the
services
that
the
behavioral
health
care
division
provides.
There's
more
information
also
on
the
back
table
about
their
program.
B
When
we
speak
of
recovery
in
terms
of
mental
health
and
addiction,
we
hear
different
meanings
and
I
often
hear
that
it's
not
entirely
clear.
What
we
do
know
is
that
recovery
is
different
for
everyone
and
we
are
all
on
our
own
journey.
We
also
know
that
it's
not
a
linear
process,
but
there
is
a
definition.
B
Reaching
our
full
potential
is
what
many
of
us
are
striving
for.
Those
of
us
who
deal
with
mental
health
addiction
issues
are
no
different
than
those
without
in
terms
of
what
we
want
out
of
life.
Each
year,
recovery
month
invites
individuals
in
recovery
to
share
their
personal
stories
and
successes
in
order
to
encourage
others.
This
can
help
break
down
the
barriers
that
have
led
to
so
much
stigma
and
discrimination
for
too
many
years.
Tonight
is
an
attempt
to
diminish
this
and
to
see
people
as
the
individuals
they
are
and
not
their
diagnosis.
B
I
do
want
to
make
the
disclaimer
that
some
of
the
things
you
will
hear
this
evening
are
difficult,
but
these
are
people's
stories
of
recovery
and
sharing.
The
truth
is
what
makes
this
so
important
tonight
we
will
hear
from
individuals
who
will
be
sharing
their
stories
and
their
talent.
We
have
some
really
amazing
people
here
who
are
courageous
enough
to
step
up
and
speak
out
about
their
recovery
in
order
to
help
educate
the
community,
as
well
as
to
help
people
understand
that
recovery
is
definitely
obtainable.
B
So
to
start
this
evening
off
we'll
have
a
short
video
from
Katerina.
Kat
has
been
a
part
of
the
act
unit,
which
is
the
addictions
Corrections
treatment
unit
in
the
Arlington
County
Detention
Center.
She
has
almost
completed
a
nine-month
treatment
program
for
adults
who
suffer
from
addiction.
It
is
meant
to
provide
holistic
and
comprehensive
treatment
to
each
individual,
while
in
this
program
the
clients
work
on
changing
themselves
from
the
inside
out
and
rebuilding
their
lives
in
order
to
reenter
society
as
a
healthy,
sober
person.
B
E
My
name
is
Katerina
Belle
and
I
am
24
years
old,
I'm
a
recovering
addict
and
have
struggled
with
addiction
for
half
of
my
life,
currently
I'm
incarcerated,
where
I've
been
working
through
a
nine-month
program
as
of
today
I
have
434
days.
Clean
I
gave
everything
away
from
my
addiction.
I
chose
drugs
over
my
family
and
friends.
I
forgot
all
of
my
ambitions
and
dreams.
I
became
the
kind
of
person
that
I
never
wanted
to
be,
but
at
the
time
I
thought
that
the
drugs
made
me
better
stronger
and
wiser.
E
I
completely
taught
touch
with
myself
and
who
I
am
this
past
year
and
I
was
spent
trying
to
figure
out
who
I
am
am
I
the
helpless
little
girl
I
was
before
my
addiction
or
am
I
the
hopeless
shell
of
a
person
that
I
became
during
my
addiction.
The
truth
is
I
am
neither
of
those
I
believe
that,
through
all
my
experiences
and
mistakes,
I
have
changed,
but
this
time
I
choose
to
change
for
the
better.
My
past,
my
traumas,
my
addiction
will
not
define
me
as
a
person.
E
I
may
have
been
through
some
tough
things
and
have
done
some
terrible
things,
but
I
can't
change
that
I
can,
however,
take
all
of
it
and
make
it
work
for
me,
I
can
honestly
say
now
that
I
never
want
to
go
back
to
that
way
of
life
and
I'm
willing
to
do
whatever
it
takes
to
get
the
life
that
I
want
for
myself.
My
journey
to
recovery
has
not
been
an
easy
one.
It
took
a
lot
for
me
to
get
here
and
I
know
that
I
still
have
a
lot
of
hard
work
ahead
of
me.
E
What
is
different
now
is
that
I
feel
that
I
am
ready
and
strong
enough
to
get
my
life
back
on
track.
I
worked
so
hard
to
derail
my
life
now
I
need
to
work
twice
as
hard
to
fix
it
and
that
I
am
willing
to
do
this
time.
I
won't
take
the
week
easy
way
out.
So
poetry
is
one
of
the
ways
that
I
express
myself,
and
this
is
one
of
the
poems
that
I've
written.
It's
called
pick
up
sticks
one
month,
two
months,
three
months
for
waiting
to
walk
out
the
door.
E
So
I
can
go
and
use
some
more
five
months,
six
months,
7
months,
8
doesn't
matter
what's
at
stake,
there's
nothing
here,
but
pain
and
heartache
9
months,
10
months,
11
months,
12
time
to
put
the
book
of
the
past
back
on
the
shelf
and
kiss
all
my
demons
farewell
one
year
now
and
I'm
still
here
but
gone
are
all
my
fears.
It
took
me
so
long
to
listen,
because
you
and
I
were
so
smitten.
We
made
a
lot
of
people
cry.
Many
of
them
thought
that
I'd
die
and
boy
did
I
try.
E
This
is
the
hardest
thing
I've
known
ever,
since
you
showed
in
my
how
you
have
grown
you've
brought
me
to
this
place
where
I
couldn't
even
stand
to
look
at
my
face
two
years
now
and
I'm,
starting
to
see
more
clear,
even
through
the
blood,
sweat
and
tears
I,
like
the
person
that
I
have
come
to
be
asked
me
now
and
I'll,
tell
you
what
I
see
now
I
realize
all
that
I
have
overcome.
How
was
I
ever
so
dumb
running
from
things
that
hurt
me
until
I
was
begging
for
mercy.
E
E
F
Six
I
would
have
thoughts
in
my
mind,
strange
thoughts,
I
have
dreams,
but
I
never
told
anyone
about
it.
I
just
blend
in
with
the
rest
of
the
children,
realto
illness
is
a
serious
disease,
but
it's
invisible.
No
one
knew
what
I
was
going
through
at
the
age
of
10
to
15,
I
was
physically
and
mentally
abused.
F
At
the
time,
I
did
not
know
that
this
was
wrong,
that
you
know
people
are
not
supposed
to
do
things
like
that
to
you,
but
a
time
I
was
old
enough
to
understand
that
things
like
that,
don't
happen,
I
hated
myself,
I,
never
wanted
anything
good
to
happen.
To
me
anything
good
that
happened.
I
was
sabotage.
It
I
would
become
very
depressed,
because
only
thing
that
satisfied
me
was
pain.
I
would
always
go
and
find
wherever
the
pain
was
because
that's
what's
the
only
thing
that
could
make
me
happy.
F
F
So
I
I
just
wanted
nothing
to
go
right
in
my
life
when
I
was
diagnosed
and
then
around
13
years
ago,
I
started
art
therapy,
I
used
to
go
every
day
and
I
used
to
make
necklace,
earrings,
bracelets,
jury
and
things
like
that.
But
we
ran
out
of
supplies,
so
the
therapist
was
like
you
know
you
have
to
do
something
and
she
said
it
gave
me
a
paintbrush
and
paints
and
canvasses
and
I
really
didn't
want
to
do
it.
F
A
F
F
F
I
go
to
the
club
houses
three
days
a
week,
I'm
in
art
groups,
and
things
like
that
and
I
just
wanted
to
say
that
mental
illness
is
something
no
one
can
really
see
what
you're
doing
I
have
a
lot
of
thoughts
in
my
mind,
and
the
thoughts
gets
crazy,
so
I
concentrate
and
thinking
about
numbers,
cuz,
I,
love
numbers
so
much
and
when
I
think
of
the
numbers,
I
have
two
puzzle:
books,
math
heart
I
can
solve
hard
problems.
But
when
my
mind
is
good
and
straight
I
really
can't
do
that.
F
So
I
just
want
to
say
a
lot
of
people
have
supported
me
and
helped
me
through
Arlington
County
I
have
the
same
therapist
but
I
guess
15
years
and
she's
been
really
working
me
and
all
the
people
to
club
house
are
amazing
and
at
Arlington
County
and
a
special
lady
Robin
who's,
always
taking
me
places
and
making
sure
I'm.
Okay
and.
F
G
Even
everyone,
my
name
is
Joyce
kind
of
nervous,
but
before
I
read
what
I'm,
what
I'm
feeling
I
want
to
I
want
to
say
do
this
journey
when
I
decided
to
surrender
and
changed
my
life.
There
were
some
people
who
touched
me
along
the
way
and
Mitzvah
Lucia
she's
no
longer
with
us,
and
she
was
a
director
of
ours
RCP
and
she
would
always
say
you
could
do
anything
you
want
to
do
and
that
I
was
on
the
right
track.
G
G
People
who
have
touched
me
since
I've
been
here
with
the
receptionist
when
you
come
into
the
behavior
study,
they
say:
I
miss
Joyce.
They
know
you
by
name,
you
know,
Maria
sitting,
there
were
her
fitting
itself,
she's
the
only
she's,
only
person
that
knows
that
works
at
behavior
and
where
her
her
leg
is
because
she's
always
working
out
Kevin
and
Tony
mucho
miss
Owen
Margie.
G
It's
been
a
good
journey,
it's
been
a
good
journey.
You
know
when
I
was
an
RCP,
we
had
opportunity
to
come.
We
saw
videos
of
Miss
Elizabeth.
They
showed
us
a
busy
busy,
our
video
and
I'm,
just
tea,
she's
no
longer
with
our
PC
and
we
came
and
we
visit
from
so
I
said:
I'm
gonna
make
that
a
goal
make
that
a
vision
to
participate
and
give
back
because
they
say
it
was
truly
freely
given
to
you.
You
get
that
and
so
I
made
that
a
goal.
G
Today,
a
vision
today,
I
have
goals
and
my
life
is
much
it's.
It's
awesome.
It's
awesome.
Ok,
so
I'm
going
to
read
and
another
thing:
katrina
talked
about
dreams.
Mr.
chicoy,
you
talked
about
dreams
and
when
I
was
a
little
girl,
I
never
dreamed
that
I
would
grow
up
to
be
a
daddy.
That
I
would
have
an
addiction.
Those
was
not
much.
That
was
not
my
dream.
My
dream
one
day
was
becoming
a
social
worker,
a
police
officer
or
airline
stewards
or
in
the
Air
Force.
So
how
I
ended
up
being
with
this
addiction?
G
If
the
wound
is
healing
with
a
scar
show,
whoever
I
become
I
have
been
free
from
my
obsession
with
drugs
and
my
compulsion
to
use
I'm
a
life
have
changed,
who
have
I
really
been
in
the
past.
I
was
a
person
without
power
or
Direction.
I
felt,
like
I,
had
no
purpose,
no
reason
for
living,
so
I
truly
surrendered.
I
no
longer
had
to
fight
I
stepped
out
there
and
gave
it
to
God
to
the
hambulance
who
work
for
my
recovery.
G
My
mental
health,
such
as
PTSD,
anxiety,
bipolars
today,
I,
am
committed
or
learning
how
to
work
on
the
most
important
relationship
in
my
life.
That's
God
in
self
today,
I
know.
I
have
a
purpose:
God
has
put
people
in
my
life
to
guide
me
through
this.
Some
will
stay
and
some
will
go,
but
they
all
would
have
played
a
part
of
my
journey
here.
G
I
stand
a
woman
who
is
no
longer
homeless,
who
has
been
clean
26
months
and
on
her
job
for
two
and
a
half
years,
who
has
learned
how
to
be
responsible
making
decisions
setting
boundaries,
a
person
who
truly
has
learned
how
to
love
myself
on
a
daily
basis?
One
day
at
a
time,
so
I
ask
you
if
you
are
scarred
with
a
scar
show.
Thank
you.
C
H
C
C
H
To
the
University
of
Texas,
when
I
studied,
English
and
Russian,
then
I
came
here
to
this
boiling
bastion
of
Beltway
bandits
that
we
call
DC
and
got
a
degree
soon
to
be
worthless
in
Russian
and
Eastern
Studies,
not
yet
annoying,
and
then
I
was
working
as
a
translator.
For
many
years
last
job
was
Siberia.
Working
with
the
exchange
program
got
interested
in
kids
came
back
on
another
degree
in
education,
a
bit.
H
I
hope
and
I
worked
in
DC,
Public
Schools
for
a
long
time
and
then
PG,
ESL
and
thence.
The
things
started
going
wrong.
That
I
couldn't
understand.
I
was
having
problems
with
the
logistics
of
teaching.
I
was
a
great
teacher.
I
had
good
lesson
plans
like
my
home
Six's
greatest
writing
to
their
5th
grade
teachers,
real
letters
not
just
once
that
I
marked
up
with
red
ink-
and
this
is,
if
you
know
the
teacher,
had
a
big
problem-
personal
problem,
grading
it
and
then
I
had
problem
with
homework
signing
it.
E
H
H
Go
ahead
laugh.
It
was
fortunate
that
the
pretzel
came
by
definitely
no
and
I
had
to
go
to
a
mentor
with
him
and
almost
lost
my
job
and
then
the
turnaround
principal
said
you
you're
not
part
of
our
plan
anymore
satisfactory
ratings,
but
you're
gonna
go
in
the
pool.
Wait
until
you
get
the
right
job.
I
panicked
took
the
first
elementary.
C
H
C
C
H
E
C
H
One
day
I
stumbled
and
fell
into
a
wall.
I
almost
was
lucky:
I
didn't
fall,
long,
suspecting,
Guardian
and
sister
said
better
get
your
head
checked
mr.
space
cadet,
which
was
my
name
our
way
back
to
college
by
rampant,
absent-mindedness,
I'm,
lucky
I
can't
even
remember,
then
they
called
me
space
cadet,
but.
C
H
H
H
E
E
H
H
H
I
C
E
H
C
H
H
C
C
H
Job
he
had
30
years
ago.
He
noticed
South
during
a
scene
or
something
I'm,
the
old
Russian
ships
or
something
and
then
driving
his
guardian
crazy.
By
telling
a
story
some
French
girl,
he
met
in
Europe
somewhere
30
years
ago
and
there's
more
than
one
just
basically
a
tour
of
Europe.
So
anyway,
no
and
then
finally
issue
3,
where
I
make
my
sister
older
sister,
proud
by
carrying
on
her
super
vegetarian
diet
example
and
that's.
J
J
I
started
using
and
experienced
in
all
types
of
drugs,
along
with
the
alcohol
it
took
me
so
far
into
the
darkness
of
Hell,
where
I
could
not
escape
I
wanted
to
stay
locked
up
in
my
own
world
of
darkness.
After
news
is
the
most
important
people
in
my
life
due
to
death,
which
was
my
father,
my
mother,
my
sister
and
brother
and
my
oldest
daughter,
and
also
a
spouse.
My
eight
kids
to
CBS
to
CPS
I
had
nowhere
to
go
or
nowhere
to
turn
I
continue
to
use
crack.
Cocaine
I
could
tend
to
use
crack.
J
I've
tried
so
many
times
to
find
the
light
to
my
destiny,
but
the
crackhead
it
holds
on
me.
I
became
a
person.
I
did
not
want
it
to
become
I
was
so
lonely
angry
guilty
I
wanted
to
lay
my
life
down
and
die
until
one
night
I
fell
to
my
knees
and
I
cried
until
I.
Couldn't
cry
no
more
I
prayed
to
God
to
lift
me
out
of
this
world
of
darkness.
God.
J
Please
help
me
I
prayed,
but
so
many
times
I
have
asked,
asked
him
to
help
me
but
took
my
where
back,
but
this
time
I
gave
up
I
couldn't
fight
the
demon
anymore.
Once
again,
I
asked
for
his
help
and
he
lifted
me
up.
I
knew
I
could
no
longer
live.
The
life
I
was
there
and
tears
roll
down
my
face
like
inviting
rivers.
I
was
committed
to
all
of
the
county
drug
court,
and
my
life
started
to
change.
It
was
a
hard
program.
C
J
Year
three
times
of
weeks
meetings,
court
curfew
is
so
much
more
came
within
sinus
jail,
clean
time
taken
away,
but
I
did
it
because
I
took
my
world
over
to
the
care
of
God
I
worked
hard
to
be
where
I
am
today,
with
the
help
of
my
peers,
miss
captain
was
Evelyn,
Valentine
Megan,
I'm,
Sean
Butler,
my
children
and
most
of
all,
my
god,
but
I
gave
him
all
the
praise
for
lifted
me
from
the
darkness
of
hell
and
to
the
world
of
life.
This
is
my
story.
The
light.
K
K
It
is
funny
how
blind
we
can
be
in
trying
to
see
ourselves
for
ourselves.
We
are
all
loved
just
for
who
we
are
so
many
times.
We
can't
see
each
other
as
clearly
as
others
see
us
how
difficult
it
can
be
to
even
see
the
person
we
wake
up
to
every
day
the
person
whose
shoes
only
we
can
fill
staring
that
mirror
all
day
and
all
we
see
back
as
a
reflection
of
who
we
think
what
you're
seeing
others
can
see
into
our
eyes,
seeing
the
window
to
our
soul
that
our
reflection
can
miss.
K
We
need
to
be
shown
who
we
are.
This
is
done
with
and
by
the
love
we
give
you
and
show
to
each
other.
Well,
we
see
ourselves
is
a
pure
poor
view
of
who
we
really
are.
The
reflection
shows
the
hair
that
isn't
perfect
enough.
The
wrinkles,
the
fading
of
our
once
perfectly
tanned,
skin,
our
friends
and
family,
can
see
us
so
much
better
than
that.
They
see
their
the
smile
that
lights
up
our
face,
the
glitter
and
a
sparkle.
K
In
our
eyes,
the
beauty
of
the
years
painted
there
forever
as
the
person
that
they
have
always
loved.
We
are
each
a
unique
work
of
art
created
by
the
loving
hands
of
God,
our
Heavenly
Father,
there's,
no
one
that
can
replace
you
or
be
a
better
you.
You
are
so
very
unique
loved
for
being
who
God
made
you.
You
are
the
amazing
person
that
your
friends
and
family
care
and
dearly
loved
our
souls
are
timeless.
Time
cannot
touch
the
love
that
carries
on
long
after
we
are
gone,
we
need
each
other
now.
K
Never
should
we
ever
wait
to
love
one.
Never
we
love
each
other,
because
we
are
never
ending
a
ceaseless
wave
and
an
ocean
of
beauty
created
with
each
turn
of
the
tide.
Every
day
is
a
little
bit
of
the
sand
on
the
shore
gone
and
where
we
see
the
path
taken
from
the
footsteps
behind
us
where
we've
walked
together
ahead
of
us.
Our
love
carries
on
the
wind
with
a
gentle
spray
of
the
ocean
breeze.
K
We
are
the
sunset,
a
beautiful
piece
of
sky,
that
lights
up
our
face,
giving
us
a
new
color
each
day
to
enjoy
with
each
other.
Our
souls
are
together
overlapping
each
other,
with
the
gentle
touch
of
light,
love
that
is
from
and
of
each
other's
spirits.
Time
cannot
touch
the
love
we
keep
of
each
other.
We
are
so
special
to
each
other
as
friends
from
within
our
families.
K
It
is
there
always
for
all
our
loved
ones
and
for
the
one
soon
to
know
we
will
all
know
God
by
our
love
for
each
other,
see
who
you
are
for
me.
Please
know
that
you
are
loved,
just
as
you
are.
If
you
want
to
know,
then
I'll
tell
you
what
I
see
in
your
eyes
a
window
to
a
creation
that
is
beauty
far
expanding,
that
of
any
other
love
God
created
only
one
year.
B
I
I
Today,
I
stand
before
you
and
I
live
in
the
solution.
I
am
now
free
from
myself,
American
Medical
Association
defines
addiction
is
a
disease
of
the
brain
which
is
chronic
and
progressive.
That
means
to
me
it's
forever
and
it
gets
worse
and
worse
and
worse.
I'm
gonna
share
my
story
with
you
and
that's
a
perfect
example
of
how
this
disease
work.
I
I
My
sobriety
date
is
October
5th
2018.
So
let
me
go
back
a
little
in
time
for
a
moment
to
talk
about
the
beginning
of
my
using
two
years
of
suffering,
with
depression
and
anxiety.
I
believe
that
was
the
catalyst
for
my
drug
use.
I
was
always
trying
to
feel
normal.
I
grew
up
in
a
great
household,
wonderful
parents
middle-class
we
went
on
vacations
I
want
to
say
you
know.
Most
of
the
teenagers
where
I
was
from
here
in
the
county
were
tried.
I
Marijuana
tried,
you
know
alcohol,
you
know,
I
didn't
do
it
every
day
and
it
wasn't
a
problem
until
it
became
a
problem
after
my
divorce,
when
I
was
27,
I
started
drinking
really
really
really
heavily,
and
that
continued
for
years
many
trips
to
jail
to
D
wives,
thank
God,
I,
didn't
kill
anybody
and
I.
Had
this
bright
idea,
I
can't
drink
anymore.
I
B
I
Just
to
give
you
an
example
of
how
the
disease
progressed,
I'm
ashamed
to
say
that
for
the
last
six
years
my
addiction
ended
with
me
shooting
heroin
and
fentanyl
into
my
body.
Something
I
said:
I
would
never
do
the
thought
of.
Even
that
word
disgusted
me,
but
that's
where
my
disease
took
me
and
I
couldn't
stop
I.
I
Remember
one
of
my
worst
moments.
That
was
right
about
the
time
I
decided
to
give
my
five-year-old
to
her
father
until
I
could
get
my
together
and
what
actually
ended
up
happening
is
that
I
started
using
more
to
deal
with
the
pain
that
I
was
feeling
from
not
being
around
my
my
child
anymore
and
I,
remember
getting
down
on
my
hands
and
knees
and
praying
to
God
to
please
just
just.
I
My
25
year
old
I
had
to
bring
her
back
to
life
twice
last
year
and
that
didn't
stop
me
from
using
in
addiction.
Your
life
is
a
manageable
you're,
powerless.
You
can't
stop
you're
isolated,
you
start
losing
things.
You
start
losing
material
things,
but
the
most
important
thing
you
lose
is
your
loss
of
morals
and
values.
You
know,
I
did
things
in
addiction
that
I
would
never
in
my
mind,
think
I
would
have
done
or
I
wouldn't
do
today.
I
had
my
conscience
back
and
that's
amazing
addiction
is
selfish.
I
It's
putting
a
drug
before
everything
else
in
your
life
before
food
before
taking
care
of
your
children
before
going
to
work,
I
didn't
I,
couldn't
do
anything
if
I
didn't
have
drugs.
That
is
what
my
brain
was
telling
me
that,
because
I
had
used
drugs
for
so
long,
my
body
stopped
producing
endorphins
and
it
had
to
have
it.
I
It
was
fight
or
flight
I
needed
that,
like
I
need
food
and
I
need
water
to
live
so
now
to
addiction
or
I'm,
sorry
to
recovery,
the
good
stuff
for
me,
recovery
has
been
a
reconnection
with
people,
it's
very
isolating
being
an
addiction.
You
feel
very
alone,
even
in
a
room
full
of
people.
Recovery
has
been
hope
for
me
when
I
had
lost
all
hope.
Its
willingness,
its
faith
in
a
Power
greater
than
myself.
I
I'm,
not
bored
I'm
at
peace,
so
what
I
do
to
stay
sober
today
is
I,
go
to
Arlington
County
and
make
sure
that
my
depression
and
anxiety
is
taken
care
of
first
and
foremost
so
I,
don't
try
to
self-medicate
I,
see
a
psychiatrist,
a
psychologist
and
a
therapist
I'm,
also
part
of
a
stumped
12-step
program.
I
go
to
meetings.
I
have
a
sponsor.
I
attend
peer
group
recovery
for
substance
abuse
one
day
a
week.
I
No
one
has
to
live
this
way.
Addiction
is
a
wee
disease.
It
affects
everybody.
It
affects
your
family,
your
mothers,
your
sisters,
your
cousins,
your
daughters,
your
children,
your
neighbors
recovery
is
possible
and
it's
connecting
with
others
and
reaching
out
your
hand
for
help,
because
it's
out
there,
if
you
know
someone
it's
out
there
and
if
I
can
get
clean,
I
feel
like
anybody,
has
a
50/50
chance.
I
am
NOT
a
bad
person
trying
to
get
good
I'm
a
sick
person
trying
to
get
well.
Thank
you.
B
So
that
concludes
the
evening.
Thank
you
so
much
for
coming
out
and
thank
you
to
all
our
presenters
I
hope
that
you've
been
inspired
this
evening
and
that
you've
seen
some
great
examples
of
recovery
on
your
way
out.
Please
stop
at
the
desk
and
pick
up
an
inspirational
stone
as
a
reminder
of
the
courageous
people
that
you
heard
this
evening
and
the
inspiration
of
hope
for
recovery.
Thank
you.