When I first got sober, I thought that if I could avoid using substances, everything else would fall into place. I believed life would eventually calm down, and then I could finally start focusing on my life goals. But here’s the truth: life doesn’t calm down. It keeps showing up, sometimes in the best ways and sometimes in the hardest.

Introduction The cycle of relapse in addiction doesn’t have to be part of your story anymore. In the world of recovery, we often hear the phrase, “Relapse is part of recovery.”  At one time, that was my story, too, but I finally broke the cycle. Last year was one of the hardest years I’ve experienced since getting clean. I was grieving significant losses, dealing with multiple health issues, handling family drama—all while working full-time, going to school, and trying to bui