Rebuilding, One Step at a Time

When I walked into Mountainside on July 31st, 2016, I did not know my life would change forever. I spent over four months at Mountainside from detox through inpatient and extended care and then moved out to Denver to sober living and my life took off.

I have been sober for just under five years and have been living my best life. Early sobriety was hard to navigate. I had been using drugs and regularly drinking since I was 13 years old and did not know who I was or how to live outside of my addictions. Because of my time at Mountainside, Alcoholics Anonymous, my newfound support system, and my sobriety, I live a great life today. Since I got sober, I can do things like paying my bills, have my own place, get in physical shape and excel in a professional career in the software industry.

I have become a very career-focused individual who always sets the bar higher for myself. I choose to be open about my recovery in all facets of my life, and I feel being in recovery has been the main factor in why I am so hardworking and determined in my career goals.

I have been able to rebuild relationships that I once thought were lost for good and have learned how to create healthy relationships with new people today. That is probably the biggest and most rewarding part of my sobriety.

I am heavily involved in Alcoholics Anonymous and try to help any still suffering addict or alcoholic get clean and sober so that they can see the beauty in life that I am lucky enough to see today. I try to give back to the recovery community because I know how important it is to have people help you along the way. I was told early on in the rooms that I did not have to do it alone. Without the fellowship of AA early on in my recovery, I do not know if I would have made it, so I try to do for others what was done for me.

To close this out, recovery is possible. You can have a life of your wildest dreams as long as you do the work and remember where you came from. I do not live in my past but acknowledge it and use it as fuel for my future. I am only 29, and my life is just getting started. It is only going up from here!

Michael J

Alumni Spotlight

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News: Mountainside Canaan Now Offering Residential Suite

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Staff Highlight: Allegra Okarmus

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