My journey into addiction began after a traumatic childhood experience when my cousin and best friend lost his life in a go-cart accident. At a young age, I was left trying to understand grief, loss, and emotional pain without the tools or support to process it. From that point on, I spent much of my life searching for escape; mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Sports gave me moments of connection, purpose, and belonging, but after multiple injuries and being prescribed pain medication, what initially felt like relief slowly became dependency. 

Over the next two decades, addiction took hold as my search for healing turned into survival. When prescriptions ran out, I turned to the streets looking for answers. Growing up in a family where struggles were rarely talked about, I learned to suppress pain instead of face it. Religion was often presented as the solution, but without true understanding or connection, it created anger, confusion, and spiritual disconnection that only fueled my addiction and my ability to justify the life I was living. 

Purpose eventually began to emerge in the rooms of AA and NA, where I first found genuine connection and the foundation for a spiritual life rooted in honesty and healing. But the journey was far from linear. After three years cycling through treatment centers, recovery programs, psychiatric wards, and jail, I realized sobriety alone would never heal the trauma I had spent my entire life running from. 

Everything began to shift when someone handed me a copy of Buddhism 101. The teachings felt like a cheat code for life, helping me align purpose with healing, mindfulness, compassion, and understanding. Through deep inner work and spiritual growth, I slowly transformed not only my recovery, but my entire relationship with myself and the world around me. 

Today, I celebrate 8 years of continuous sobriety and live a life grounded in presence, accountability, and purpose. I am grateful to have a wonderful partner and four beautiful children who inspire me daily to continue growing and showing up fully. My passion now is helping others rediscover hope, healing, and the possibility of a meaningful and connected life