The quiet power of empathy in recovery
April 28, 2025
My name is Aubrey, and I’m a Face It TOGETHER peer coach for those with addiction as well as loved ones.
As I come closer to my fourth anniversary as a peer coach, I’ve been thinking about the hope I’m seeing in members lately.
It’s such a beautiful thing when individuals can look back on what used to be their deepest darkness and use that experience to help others.
As hard as those days were, they gave us a kind of strength that can’t be taught. More and more, I see members begin to trust their own voices, offering encouragement and support to others who are just starting out.
I’d like to share one example of this in action recently.
Like many individuals impacted by addiction, this member has had a long journey. Thankfully, she’s doing really well now. She recently offered to go to a 12-step meeting with another woman just coming out of treatment. They have similar journeys, and she wanted to be there for someone else in early wellness.
This longtime member also works at a gas station. She recently told me, “I can tell who’s struggling. I know because I’ve been there. I see their hands shaking as they come to buy alcohol.”
She always smiles and tries to connect with those customers. She has a conversation with them—no judgment.
It may seem like a small thing, but I think it’s a beautiful example of the empathy and quiet understanding that often come with addiction recovery.
Thank you for being with us on this journey.