Josephine Santa Fe

My journey of sobriety is one of many ups and downs, my focus is to be selfish and maintain my sobriety. No one said sobriety is going to be easy or that you won’t go through hard times in life, I feel that through my hardest times, is when I was the strongest, that’s where God and Prayer is my foundation. I’ve been through the loss of both my parents, which the grieving part still continues. I remember having a conversation with my mother before she had passed away of cancer, she took my hand and said “your going to change peoples’s lives, I believe in your sobriety, I have no doubt in your recovery “. I still hear those words she told me. Many people (including family) will try and tear you down, that’s when you realize the circle around you becomes smaller and smaller. I know who is proud of me and who believes in me, that’s all that matters to me.

1986 I was 25 years old when I became sober, I voluntarily entered into a 30 day in-house rehab, from that moment on I knew this was where my new journey will begin. I promised myself if God gave me this chance, I would change my life. The hardest thing in my life was to admit to myself and a room full of people that I was an alcoholic and a drug addict, that this is what I have done to myself. You can never imagine that feeling, of knowing I was a failure. I hated myself and thought I had let my family down, I was an embarrassment. With a lot of counseling and prayer, getting on my knees every morning asking God for help and for another day to stay sober. God is where I found my foundation, still even today, every day.

Celebrating 34 years of recovery is the gift God has given me. In 2017 I became a Recovery Coach and I do volunteer work at The Taunton Drug Court, I also volunteer by running a women’s AA meeting at a sober house. I feel by providing my resources and educating young children and adults by using my strengths and support for helping people in recovery will be an inspiration to others. I love my life now, sharing my life with my fiancé (who is also sober) and having an extended family is what brings so much joy into my life. My life is balanced with work, family and volunteering. Not a day goes by that I get on my knees and thank God for my life. I am proud of the women I have become and that I am in recovery, no one can ever take that away from me. God Bless!