When asked to share her story, Sam produced the following heartfelt words:
“First of all, thank you for asking me to share a snippet of myself. This right here is another beautiful blessing, and that arises when I least expect it.
Recovery has been the foundation of my life for the last few years, and it’s changed me entirely. I came into this process not knowing where I was going with it or who I would become, and the journey is always changing. It’s in the little things that I’m learning how to evolve as a person and make improvements in myself mentally, spiritually, physically and, most of all, emotionally.
A little bit about me: I’ve always been a sensitive person, hyper focused on the details of life and a bit self-critical on the way that I move through it. I’m a musician, and that was a huge part of my motivation to get clean. It has been almost 4 years since I walked into a detox, and in these last years, I’ve been able to finally put my passion into action. I get to perform again. I’ve made an EP album and finally put my music on Spotify, Apple Music and streaming platforms. This was huge for me because I thought that without using, I wouldn’t be able to connect with myself again.
These are some dreams that have come true for me just by staying with the decision I made to live this lifestyle. I’ve been given opportunities to perform for recovery related events and get to meet people all the time who are doing it too. I had to change everything: the people I hung around, the places I went and, most importantly, the way I navigated and reacted. The old me had to die, and the new me was born.
Recovery has given me the strength to step out of my own way and appreciate the gifts I’ve been given. I’ve dedicated my life to becoming a full-time peer support specialist, and I’m grateful to be certified in that position and help multiple people transition into this lifestyle. It’s hard to really explain how much recovery affects my life because it has engulfed everything I do in a positive way. I get to help people I thought I’d never meet and steer them in the directions that they want to go. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to be a part of other people’s process.
I am forever grateful and lucky that I was saved and get to make this daily choice to keep going. It’s been hard. It’s been easy. It’s been fun. It’s been scary. All of these emotions are only the tip of the iceberg when you’re truly trying to find out who you are. It’s a rollercoaster and a great adventure at the same time. I am so blessed to have this chance to live again.
For anyone who is questioning if they can do it, you can. It just takes commitment and dedication. You are worth it. Reach out. Ask people for help. I had to do that, and now I’m here. I believe in you.”
Listen to Sam on Soundcloud.