As I sat here in Perth, Western Australia, with the clock ticking down to midnight, I thought what better way to start the New Year than to have a blog post from someone talking about their recovery. I saw a powerful Facebook post this morning from Emily Morris and I asked if I could post her words. She agreed.
Emily was with North Wales Recovery Communities (NWRC) in Bangor when I visited and gave talks in April 2024. She is now doing a mathematics degree at Liverpool John Moores University. How awesome is that! Here are Emily’s moving words:
‘I’ve heard a lot of people talking about ‘New year, New me’, and good on them. Change that life, everything is possible. I’ve talked enough crap about change, but this last year I did it.
Recovery was my life, and in that I built my life. Surrounding myself with love, kindness and acceptance, gave me the time to begin to heal. I’m proud of myself for once. I’ve made good decisions, and bad choices, but I own those today because I was clean throughout. I have a job, a place at uni, a driver’s licence, and a little flat to call my own.
I’ve got a human in my life who keeps me grounded when my fly-away mind floats too close to the sun, and buys me ‘chippy’ when I’m sad. I’ve got friends to moan with, to cry with, to laugh with, and to just be with. I have my family, for whom, I can finally give them every ounce of the love I am capable of, and a Dad that never gave up on me. Most importantly, I have a peace that I’ve never found in years of searching in all the wrong places. That for me is recovery.
For the last few years, I was proud of myself for getting through it, for surviving it. This year, however, I’m proud of living it. With New Year’s Eve tomorrow, and a brand new year ahead, I’m no longer fearful of what life begins. For once, I’m fiercely protective of what I have, for unfortunately many of those I’ve shared my love with, know how quickly one decision can take that all away.
For those waiting to take that first step, terrified of a new life. Please know, that through the pain, the hard work, and the fear, there is a life out there waiting for you, and humans out there counting down the days to be a part of it.
My gratitude list would take up more words than there are sheets of paper on the planet, so I’m going to give the trees a break and just say, ‘Thank you’ to everyone who’s out there today still trying, and to those whose kindness gave me back my life. And to those planting flowers on the grave that they dug for me, I hope you find the healing you need to see the sunshine the way I do.
Instead of ending the year strong, I’m going to end the year rested. To enjoy the peace, and the calm, as we roll into the New Year.
We do recover.’
Thank you so much for letting me post your powerful words, Emily. I wish you the very best for the coming year. Please stay in touch. Finally, I should mention that Emily told me that she went to lots of different treatment places, but it was NWRC that changed her life. She is so grateful to everyone at Penrhyn House.