Living with substance use disorder can be an incredibly isolating and traumatic experience. The road to recovery is often long and full of setbacks. That’s why we celebrate those in recovery for their tenacity, bravery, and hope. At the Pittsburgh Recovery Walk 2023, PERU volunteers asked participants to write their answers to the question, “What does recovery mean to you?” Some of their inspiring answers can be found below.
What does recovery mean to you?
Recovery to me is making and helping foster a healthy and positive change in your or someone else’s life. It’s a very powerful thing!
–Evan
Happiness, peace of mind, and joy.
–AnnieJean
Recovery for me…is being free and healing from anger, fear, control, and trust. Recovery has brought me to a place where I can live my best life free from the effects of trauma.
–Stephanie
Recovery to me means being a strong, independent, healthy, and happy woman. Being the empathetic and caring and dependable person I REALLY am on the inside!
–Tammy
A better life that we can be around and enjoy family and friends, and not be alone.
–Dianna
Means I can be present with my granddaughter as she scribbles.
–Buffy
PERU staff had a great time volunteering at the walk and gathering stories from participants who stopped by the table.
