What does recovery look like to you?

In honor of Recovery Month 2020, we invited community members to share photos and describe how they represented “recovery” to them. Recovery is everywhere, so we also asked people to share photos representing personal recovery, family recovery, recovery advocacy, recovery pets, hope, recovery allies, recovery professionals, honor guard (10+ years of recovery) and remembering a loved one.

Thank you to everyone for sharing your powerful stories of hope and resiliency. We received over 200 photos!

JenI don't always know how to be the best ally, so I just try to meet people where they're at. Sometimes that's in the slow moving waters upstream... Sometimes that's in the violently churning waters at the bottom of the fall.

CarmenRamsey County Sheriffs Department working in the Community to provide Recovery Resource Information. Congratulations on your recovery!

Two women and one man standing barefoot on a patio in front of a lake on a beautiful day.

PaulaI am honored to be a Recovery Ally to those I love.

Missions, Inc.Women are built for connection...solid sisterhood in recovery. #MissionsincHartHouse

Two women and a man standing in the cold rain

GloriaWe braved the cold and rain in Washington DC to Unite for Recovery

CaddyFriends/allies - can't do recovery with out them!

Two women and two men all listening intently to someone pictured off-camera

MarishaAt my loft, after my son emancipated. A gathering of such dear ones, supporting each other in our various recoveries, and listening so closely to each other.

Piece of grass pushing up out of asphalt

Yer

Recovery is a lifelong process, and social support is one of the most important factors in sustaining long-term recovery. To me, being a recovery ally means listening, educating myself (there is so much to learn and unlearn), and supporting those seeking freedom from addiction. Recovery is possible. Everyone deserves to have the chance at a life they dream of. Life grows even in the harshest of conditions.