08/28/2026
Yesterday morning, we met two CU students who were on a sunrise hike before class. I couldn’t resist having one of those “when I was your age…” moments, because truly, when I was their age, the only way I was catching sunrise was at the end of a full night of drinking and doing coca*ne. No chance I was getting up to climb a mountain.
I hit my first rock-bottom the second semester of my junior year and had to fly home to go to rehab in Chicago, and within days of coming back, I was already drinking again. It was incredible to think how much different their college experience was starting the day nature, exercise & awe instead of a hangover.
Even though I sometimes experience feelings of grief and loss when I think about how much of my life was consumed by drinking and doing drugs, I honestly wouldn’t change any of it. Not only because I have some amazing memories from those days, but also because addiction recovery shook me awake in a way that forced me to experience life completely differently in sobriety. Little things feel like big things. Surnise, mountains, the joy Gus and I share on the trails… it all feels like magic. We’ve hiked this trail more times than I can count and it never gets old to me.
So just a reminder for anyone who needs it… It’s never too late to choose a different life. Recovery is possible and you are worth it.