In September 2007, I walked into Ashley full of fear, shame and uncertainty. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I didn’t know what to expect, I just knew that I was dying. I was broken physically, emotionally & spiritually, but also with a tiny spark of hope that maybe, just maybe, life could be different. I had no idea then that this would be the moment that changed everything. The education I received at Ashley was life- changing. Learning about the disease of alcoholism was both painful and liberating. It wasn’t my fault.
For the first time I understood that what I was fighting wasn’t a lack of willpower or moral failure-it was a disease. When I put alcohol on my tongue, it set off things in my brain that told me I needed more. That understanding gave me compassion for myself and the courage to start healing. From there I embraced the program of AA. I learned to live one day at a time, to ask for help, and to trust something greater than myself. The fellowship of AA surrounded me with people who had walked this road before me and were willing to guide me along it.
Through service work I’ve learned that giving back is the key to staying connected and sober. Helping others reminds me every day how far I’ve come and how much I’ve been given. Recovery has given me more than sobriety-it’s given me a life filled with meaning, clarity and connection. I’ve rebuilt relationships, rediscovered laughter, and found peace in moments that used to overwhelm me. Today, I look back on that day in 2007 not with regret, but with gratitude. It was the day I began to truly live. I’ve never looked back-only forward, one day at a time, with hope in my heart and gratitude in my soul.
I lovingly donate to Ashley because they saved my life. Everything I have today-my peace, my relationships, my purpose-began the day I walked through Ashley’s doors. I give back so that others can have the same chance that I was given. Ashley helped me find hope when I thought it was gone, and I’ll always be grateful for that gift.
When I learned about Ashley’s Future Campaign, I knew immediately that I wanted to be part of it. The campaign inspired me because it’s about giving hope to the next person who feels as lost as I once did. Supporting Ashley’s future means that more people can receive the same education, compassion and care that gave me my second chance at life. My donation is my way of saying thank you and of helping carry Ashley’s mission forward for generations to come.
