Fifteen Years In Recovery. And Fifteen reasons to Keep fighting.
- Liz Healy Kay
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 16 hours ago
When I woke up on this day 15 years ago, I was in a state of terror. An overdose the night before. The cops next to me. It was the end of almost a year on the run. It really felt like life was over.
Little did I know – the end of hell was actually the beginning of heaven. It would take dozens of blog entries to capture all that’s happened since, but for that, I wrote a book.
For now, in honor of 15 years, here are 15 reasons I keep fighting:
307,000. The number of Americans we lost to drugs, alcohol, and suicide last year. I’ll never forget this number.
Family. The family relationships I have mean more than anything else. Nothing makes me happier than being with them, supporting them, and reflecting on them.
Past self. There’s a version of Jason that missed a lot. Messed up a lot. Regretted more. And the life I live today is in service of that person.
Dad. My dad died at 39, the age I turned just 10 days ago. One of my greatest honors is to live my life seeking what he couldn’t find – a beautiful life of recovery.
Those still fighting. Over 85 million adults have suffered this year with mental health or substance use disorders. 85 million. They need as much of us as we can give.
Loved ones. 85 million means even more loved ones. Loved ones can suffer just as much, sometimes more, than those they’re watching. They need us.
Those who will fight. There are, unfortunately, billions of people that will need to fight this fight in the future. What I do, and what we do now, will determine how hard that fight is.
Recovery. Recovery as an institution has evolved over the last 100 years. It needs to keep evolving, growing, and innovating. And I take responsibility to drive that.
Society. Our world is hurting, and though one person won’t change that alone, one person can alter the path of that pain significantly.
Health. There’s more to recovery than recovery. Health – individually, organizationally, and societally – needs to be a priority for all. When we’re healthy, we don’t need to seek comfort in all that’s unhealthy.
Joy. Overcoming the deadly diseases we fight against is an amazing accomplishment. Most people don’t get there. But, there’s so much more. A life without joy is such a missed opportunity.
Fulfillment. For so many years, I ran from my problems and sought relief through substances, alcohol, and all kinds of other pleasures. My life today provides the fulfillment my mind and spirit were always seeking. And in a way that’s long lasting, not temporary and fleeting.
Life. We all have an end date. We don’t know when it is. I’m here to live. Because as my late auntie shared with me, as her parting words of wisdom: “Live. We never know when it will be our last year. Our last month. Our last week. Our last day. Our last hour. So live. And be good to people.”
Legacy. When we leave this world, we aren’t forgotten. In fact, we are often remembered more, especially for the things we did best. I’ll fight until the end to make sure those things are worth remembering.
Impact. The last quote in my memoir is mine, and reads as follows: “In the end, the value of my life should ultimately be measured by the value I’ve added to the lives of others.” Remember that at my funeral. And keep it close to your own hearts.
As I hit this 15-year milestone, I’m overwhelmed reflecting on how fortunate and blessed I’ve been.
Because of all those who stood up for me, I now get to stand up for so many others. I’ll never forget the people who carried me when I was still broken.
To everyone still fighting – this is for you.
All my love,
J