Recovery

Reaching 38 years of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)

is a profound milestone, not only marking the passage of time but also celebrating a journey of healing from alcoholism, codependency, and other process disorders. With each year, the rewards of recovery deepen, and so does the understanding of life’s greatest gifts: gratitude, grace, and pain.

Gratitude

Gratitude is the cornerstone of long-term recovery. After years of sobriety, it becomes clearer how far one has come, not just from the chaos of addiction, but toward a life filled with authentic relationships, inner peace, and purpose. Daily reflections on gratitude allow for a shift in perspective—what once felt insurmountable now fuels strength and perseverance.

Grace

Grace plays a pivotal role in healing. It’s the gentle reminder that recovery is not about perfection, but progress. It’s the compassion shown toward oneself in moments of struggle, knowing that healing is a continuous, lifelong process.

Pain

Recovery doesn’t mean that hard stuff doesn’t happen… It means that I have 100 healthy choices and new ways to respond to pain and difficulty. Of course, pain is unavoidable in both addiction and recovery. However, over time, pain transforms from something to escape into a source of wisdom. The growth that comes from facing it head-on allows the deeper wounds of codependency and other process disorders to heal.

In 38 years of recovery, one learns that sobriety is more than abstaining from alcohol—it’s embracing the journey of becoming whole again, grateful for each moment of grace along the way. Prior to recovery, I gave up everything for one thing. In recovery, by giving up one thing, I have access to everything. If I can be of any assistance with talking about one’s using, or how a loved one’s using is wreaking havoc on your life, please reach out.

With Gratitude,

Sheila