For a long time, I looked like I had it all together. I was a good kid. had great grades in school,  was never in trouble with the law, and I always had this deep desire to break the generational curse that surrounded me. I dreamed of going to college, building a successful life, and becoming someone my future family could be proud of.

But behind the scenes, things weren’t so perfect. I was raised around a lot of drinkers. As a child, I spent a lot of time in my grandparents’ bar, and to me, drinking seemed… normal. It was a part of life that didn’t feel out of place—until it started to take over mine.

As I grew older, trauma began to build in ways I didn’t know how to process. One of the most devastating moments of my life was finding my niece after she passed. That pain didn’t go away—it just dug in deeper. And like many do, I began to numb that pain the only way I knew how.

Drinking went from casual to consistent. Before I realized it, I was drinking four or five days a week, spending $300–$400 at the bar weekly. The spiral happened slowly, then all at once. I started getting kicked out of bars. I made a fool of myself in public. I pushed people away. I lost friends. I sabotaged relationships. I distanced myself from family. And worst of all, I lost sight of who I really was.

But rock bottom became the turning point.

I made the decision to change my life.

I put myself through an intensive outpatient program. I began getting the Vivitrol injection monthly to help me stay sober. I walked into an AA meeting for the first time, nervous but ready, and met my sponsor. I committed to working the 12-step program. I started therapy—real, consistent therapy that helped me unpack years of pain. I began exploring new hobbies, trying to find joy again in small things. And step by step, I started building a life I could be proud of.

Today, life feels brighter. Sobriety hasn’t just changed me—it’s allowed me to reconnect with who I really am. I feel better. My relationships are healthier. The people around me are happier. But most importantly, I’m happier.

I created Rise In Sobriety to share my story with others who may be feeling lost like I once was. You are not alone. There is hope. There is a future. And it begins with that first step.

One day at a time, we rise