9 People who LOVE life in recovery

Katie McKenna • October 4, 2021

9 People who LOVE life in recovery

Chris Stewart

Carlsbad, California
Clean and Sober since January 1st, 2014

Motivational Public Speaker, Substance Abuse Counselor, Visionary Coach, New Orlean Saints Santa Claus, and Author of “Prayers, 

Punk Rock, and Pastry”.

What Chris loves the most about being in recovery: 


“I love that I get to be the same person to everyone I know and meet. I used to have to put on a mask all day everyday trying to cheat/manipulate and lie to people and it was exhausting!I also love going to recovery meetings all over the world and meeting other miracles and I also love that my job is literally to transform the way people view addicts and the way addicts view recovery. ( This is also my personal daily mantra and mission statement.)”


Chris’s Facebook. www.facebook.com/ROCKanAMAZINGlife 

Chris’s instagram: @1hopedealer

Megan Johnson

Vancouver, BC Canada

Sober since September 28, 2015

RPhT (Registered Pharmacy Technician) ~ I compound heroin into injectable syringes for safe supply in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside #dtes

What Megan loves most about being in recovery:

“The greatest joy of recovery is truly being free in a life I love living and the ability to help those still struggling in the darkness with the light I was shown.”

 

Megan’s Instagram: @megstarbaby 

Megan’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megstarbaby/

Andrew Clark 

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Clean and sober since September 3, 2015

Local 183 Sprinkler fitter UA PIPETRADE

What Andy loves most about being in recovery: 


“The freedom of choice. A working relationship with my higher power and knowledge of spiritual solutions. Just to be normal is an unnatural state for addicts. So having the ability to be of service and help others, to be human with values and character, a productive member of society.. I had to learn all that AFTER getting clean/sober! Truly a gift.”


Andy’s Instagram: @class_meets_trash

Shannon Gossett Rudisill, age 52

Gastonia, NC

Sober since September 8, 2013



What Shannon loves most about sobriety:


“I love sobriety because it has given me the gift of self love and self esteem. I have found my true self and I am living happy, joyous, and free.

My mother passed away this year and because of sobriety I have been able to live with the grief instead of covering it up with drugs and alcohol.”


Shannon’s Instagram:
@sassysobershan

John Dillon

Chester County PA

Sober since November 5th, 1990

Nuclear Plant Operator

What John loves the most about being in recovery: 

“Even after 30 years, my addictions still talk to me and remind me where I came from.”

Lori Massicot

Southern California native

Sober since August 11, 2013

Certified Life + Recovery Coach, Podcaster

What Lori loves the most about being in recovery: 


“I never thought I would say that I LOVE to be sober, but it's the BEST!

After three decades of drinking to cope with life, anxiety, stress, and just my existence, I have a much better life without alcohol. 

Getting sober didn't fix my life; it made me realize that my life didn't need to be fixed, and I didn't need to escape.

There is so much clarity that comes later in life, and when you take alcohol out of the mix, it's 10x'd. 

I love that sobriety allows me to create a new mindset that helps me cope with my anxiety and stress and fulfill my needs without drinking. 

Sobriety looks and feels like freedom, and I’m forever grateful to myself for choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle.”

 

Lori’s Instagram: @lorimassicot

Lori’s Podcast: To 50 and Beyond Podcast

Lori’s Website : lorimassicot.com

Jon Baysden

Columbia, South Carolina

Sober since January 13th, 2017

What Jon loves the most about being in recovery: 


“Sober living is vibrant, fulfilling, and a way to enjoy real experiences and relationships. I look at people in the eye now that I love and I’m not ashamed to do so. I feel more free and my life is no doubt more manageable (internally and externally).”


Jon’s Instagram:
@hella_80s



Rebecca Avis-Steinberg 

Bondsville, Massachusetts

sober since December 16th, 2020

What Becky loves the most about being in recovery: 


“What I love the most about being sober is knowing my kids are proud of me. And my ability to focus on things other than drinking, I’m not hungover or drunk. Which was the viscous cycle I was caught in. All of my listless effort was spent doing the bare minimum for myself, and giving the rest to my kids. Now I have enough to give my family and myself. I’m happier and healthier than I can ever remember in the last 10 years.”

Nick Fuchs

New Orleans, LA

Sober since April 17, 2015

Insurance Adjuster

What Nick loves the most about being in recovery: 


“I couldn’t be more grateful to be living this beautiful life in recovery. It’s not easy at times but it’s definitely worth it. To watch God blow your mind with things you never thought were possible. The one thing I am the most grateful for is the restoration of my relationships with my children and family🙏 We do recover🙌.”


Nick’s Instagram:
@lavitadinick

By Jason Ertrachter February 4, 2025
With over a decade of alcohol and drug abuse, it became clear I could not drink responsibly or consume in moderation. Upon further review, I came to understand I was never able to drink responsibly and was predisposed to consume in excess. Moderation is a construct I still don’t understand. Alcohol, drugs, sugar, ego, all things I love to indulge in. At 25 years old, weeks before the pandemic, I found myself being escorted by security from my beloved office in a sought-after industry in a glamorous part of Los Angeles. Pursuing a career in talent management, the late nights, weekly drinking, daily drug use culminated in the unavoidable fear, anxiety and sense of calamity that led me to recovery. I asked myself, “What was the common denominator between lost jobs, friends lost, arrests, hurt feelings and selfishness?” People, places, things were always changing, but the one constant in my story was me with drugs and alcohol. Walking into the West Hollywood Recovery Center on Monday February 5th, 2020 at noon was not my first meeting. It was, however, the first meeting at which I listened and actually took suggestions. Meetings as a teenager, and again in college when my drug use got bad, were simply to get people off my back. As I look back, I understand that I actually needed to get out of my own way, not have those who loved me off of my back. I am grateful to have gotten sober during a time when the world shut down and so many struggled. I had nowhere to go, no outside distractions to challenge my commitment. I fully emerged myself in meetings and all that AA had to offer for young people. There were thousands of virtual meetings at every hour of the day, but more importantly, rooms and outdoor meetings in LA that never missed a beat. There was an underground community of meeting makers that continued to go to in-person meetings, masks on, hugs and fellowship. I found that the work of early recovery far outweighed the isolation. I left the entertainment industry with two years of sobriety. New career opportunities opened up pretty quickly for me. Transitioning into the startup and tech sales world, I was able to move back home to New York and be closer to my family. As my sobriety continued, new career paths continued to present themselves. When I was introduced to Matt and AJ, I was immediately impressed with their mission and welcomed the opportunity to join the team. I am confident that the combination of my personal and professional success, as well as my CARC, CRPA certification, made my decision the perfect one for me. Having hit my stride in my own recovery, I now see that that my purpose is to help others. It is a purpose I do not take lightly. I bring the same energy and focus that has helped me to get where I am today to other individuals and families alike looking for a better way.
By Stephanie Myers, CPRS January 29, 2025
My name is Stephanie Myers, and I am excited to be part of the incredible team at You Are Accountable . As difficult as my journey prior to recovery was, I am grateful for every step along the way. My recovery journey began five years ago through what I believe was divine intervention. At my lowest point—mentally, physically, and spiritually—I was led to a 12-step recovery program. Most of my life was spent seeking relief from my internal and external struggles. During my teenage years, I thought I had found a solution, but my addiction only progressed, leading me to the depths of despair. My addiction compromised my morals, diminished my integrity, and left me with a profound sense of hopelessness. Overwhelmed by guilt and shame, I realized that everything in my life had to change. I became willing to do whatever it took to shift the trajectory of my life. Gradually, I connected with others who understood my pain and had found their way to recovery. I dedicated myself to internal work and began to fill the spiritual void that I had been attempting to fill with substances. Today, my life is filled with purpose, love, and more beauty than I could have ever imagined five years ago. It is my passion to help others realize that there is hope on the other side of addiction. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist, I strive to help plant the seed of recovery and help others grow along their path to recovery.
By Brittany Pealer, CRPS January 28, 2025
My name is Brittany, and I’m honored to be part of the team at You Are Accountable . My journey to recovery has been filled with struggles, lessons, and, ultimately, transformation. For years, I lived in the utter hopelessness of addiction, believing there was no way out. A "normal" life felt completely out of reach, and even as a child, I never felt like I had a true purpose. Throughout my active addiction, I found myself trapped in a relentless cycle. I would put one substance down—whether through treatment or court-ordered intervention—but almost immediately, I would pick up another. Each time, I restarted the same painful, destructive cycle, convinced that I could never break free. It wasn’t until I realized that recovery is an inside job that things began to change. Changing people, places, and things (and substances) can only do so much for so long; true recovery requires doing the hard work within. My turning point came when I became pregnant with my first daughter. For the first time in my life, I found a reason to fight for something greater than myself. That moment marked the beginning of my journey to recovery, and through that journey, I discovered the life I never thought was possible. Today, I’m blessed with an amazing job, a beautiful family with two incredible daughters, and an active role in my recovery community. As a Certified Peer Recovery Specialist (CPRS) and Recovery Coach, I am passionate about helping others find hope and healing. I understand the challenges of breaking free from addiction, and I’m living proof that it’s possible to create a life filled with purpose, joy, and connection. Recovery has given me everything I once believed was out of reach, and I’m honored to walk alongside others as they embark on their own journeys to freedom.
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