CCAR is one of the United State's original Recovery Community Organizations, founded in 1998. The "Recovery Storytelling" video series seeks to tell honest, powerful stories of Recovery from substance use that cannot be expressed in data. In this installment of the series, Rita, a CCAR employee, gives us a powerful example of what it is to truly live one's Recovery and the sometimes bittersweet gifts we receive as a result. We regain the ability to feel and to process pain in a healthy way. We are gifted with the ability to truly be present for each moment of our life - the happy ones and the saddest ones.