The early days of recovery can be overwhelming. You’re stepping into unfamiliar territory, letting go of old coping tools, and trying to imagine a life you may not have experienced in years—or ever. In those moments, a little clarity and compassion can go a long way.
At Silver Maple Recovery, our team has walked alongside hundreds of clients through the hard work of healing. We asked a few of our counselors and supervisors a simple but powerful question:
“What’s one thing you wish every client knew about recovery?”
Their responses reflect the heart of what it means to recover: that it’s active, it’s layered, and it’s possible.
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Recovery is active. You always have to work at it. If you are willing to put the work in, you can do it!
—J. Hulin, Clinical Supervisor
Recovery doesn’t happen by accident. It requires participation, persistence, and personal ownership. It’s not just about showing up to appointments or attending meetings; it’s about engaging with your recovery every day. That might mean journaling, setting boundaries, calling your sponsor, doing step work, or simply being honest with yourself about your triggers.
At its core, recovery is a practice. Like building strength in the gym, you get stronger by showing up, even on the days when it’s hard. Especially on the days when it’s hard.
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Page 417. If you can accomplish this, you can change your life.
—D. Schmidt, CDCA, Admissions Director
“And acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation—some fact of my life—unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens in God’s world by mistake. Until I could accept my alcoholism, I could not stay sober; unless I accept life completely on life’s terms, I cannot be happy. I need to concentrate not so much on what needs to be changed in the world as on what needs to be changed in me and in my attitudes.”
Acceptance is one of the most powerful tools in recovery. It doesn’t mean giving up or condoning harmful behavior. It means acknowledging what is real—and choosing to respond with clarity instead of resistance. Many clients come into treatment with deep pain, guilt, or frustration. But when you accept your past and your present without judgment, you create space to build something different.
Page 417 of the Big Book of Alcoholics Anonymous reflects a broader mindset that we explore at Silver Maple. It’s a mindset that has helped thousands find peace, stability, and the courage to grow.
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Recovery takes time. Recovery is a process, not a destination. Healing doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lifelong journey filled with progress, setbacks, and growth. Be patient with yourself.
—B. Rivera, CDCA, Female Recovery Apartment Manager
You don’t graduate from recovery. It’s not a finish line; it’s a daily choice. And like anything worthwhile, it includes both setbacks and success.
One of the biggest mistakes people make is expecting everything to get better immediately. But healing is non-linear. You might feel amazing one week and struggle the next. That doesn’t mean you’re failing; it means you’re human. Recovery invites you to trust the process, to keep going, and to remember that time is not your enemy; it’s your ally.
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Recovery is not just about stopping the substance—it’s a whole-person process that involves healing physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and socially.
—R. Barlow, LSW, LICDC, Clinical Supervisor
Addiction affects more than just your behavior. It impacts your body, your thoughts, your relationships, and your sense of self. True recovery is a process of rebuilding your foundation.
That’s why Silver Maple focuses on holistic healing. Whether through therapy, peer support, nutrition, fitness, spirituality, or trauma-informed care, our goal is to help you restore the parts of your life that addiction tried to take from you. Recovery means becoming whole again.
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One thing I wish every client knew about recovery is that you’re allowed to grow beyond the version of yourself that just survived. The person you were, the one who used, shut down, acted out, or pushed people away, was doing what they needed to do to get through pain, trauma, and chaos. Those survival habits may have protected you at one point, but they don’t have to define who you are today. Recovery isn’t about being perfect, it’s about learning new ways to cope, to feel, to connect, and to live. You’re not broken; you were adapting. Now you have the chance to rewrite your story with honesty, courage, and the kind of strength that comes from healing, not hiding.
—Jahida Chavez, CDCA, Counselor
This quote is a reminder that shame has no place in recovery. Many clients carry guilt over who they became during their addiction. But survival mode isn’t weakness—it’s evidence that you made it through.
Now, you get to choose something different. You get to grow, not just heal. You get to imagine new relationships, new ways of handling stress, new definitions of success. Recovery offers you that permission: to evolve, to forgive yourself, and to lead with honesty.
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Please be open-minded to suggestions and feedback. Humility is your best offense and defense when it comes to recovering from addiction. Addiction has changed the way your brain functions. Give yourself time to heal. Good judgement will return, but that might take a while. Use your support group when making big decisions.
—Kyle Higgins, Outpatient Director
Recovery requires vulnerability. The very thing that addiction taught you to avoid—trusting others, asking for help, admitting you don’t have all the answers—is the very thing that will save you.
Being open-minded doesn’t mean agreeing with everything. It means being willing to consider the idea that other people might see you more clearly than you see yourself right now. It means choosing humility over pride, curiosity over fear.
Your brain will heal. But in the meantime, lean on your support system. Let your sponsor, your counselor, your group hold the line for you while you rebuild your confidence.
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“The one thing that I wish every client knew about recovery is that addiction is a disease, not a moral failing and recovery is possible with the right support system. Recovery is a lifelong journey and you can have an amazing life surrounding yourself with sober friends. There is real fun in sobriety; find a home group in whatever program that fits you the most AA, NA, CA, etc. They have cookouts and bonfires, retreats and so many other things that can be fun and will build your support system even more. Don’t give up, it’s hard work but so worth it!”
—Suzanne Parsons, CDCA Counselor
This quote speaks to one of the most important mindset shifts in recovery: understanding that addiction is not a personal failure—it’s a treatable condition. Many clients carry deep shame about their past, which can make it hard to believe they deserve support or joy. But recovery is about rebuilding. And that process becomes possible when you surround yourself with people who understand, encourage, and walk the journey with you.
The suggestion to find a home group—whether in AA, NA, CA, or another peer support program—is an invitation into community. Sober life doesn’t have to feel lonely or dull. With the right support system, you’ll find connection, laughter, and real belonging again. Yes, recovery is hard work. But it’s also full of unexpected joy.
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Whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it alone.
Recovery is not a secret code or a straight line. It’s a lived, human process that requires patience, honesty, effort, and love.
If you’re wondering whether you belong here, the answer is yes. You do.
And we’re here to walk with you.
