Recovering Loudly: Celebrating the Journey of Recovery

Anne Claussen, LADC

September is National Recovery Month—a time to shine a light on the courage, strength, and hope of those walking the path of recovery. This year at TLC, we embraced the theme “When we recover loudly, we keep others from dying silently” with shirts designed to inspire others to speak their truth and celebrate their journey. Wearing these shirts is more than just showing support—it’s a declaration that recovery is real, it’s alive in Nebraska, and that no one should have to walk the path alone, in silence.

Recovery is not about racing to your destination like a speedboat from one shore to the other; it’s more like navigating a sailboat. A sailboat’s progress is rarely linear, and more like a zig zag pattern. Some days the wind is steady, and progress feels smooth. Other days the waters are rough or the winds disappear, making it hard to move forward at all. Yet, with every small adjustment of the sails—every meeting attended, every honest choice made, every call for support—progress happens. Slowly but surely, the boat keeps moving, and the journey continues.

This is why we celebrate not just the big milestones—30 days, one year, five years—but also the everyday victories. Each day in recovery is an act of courage. Every person who chooses to recover out loud sends out a ripple of hope that touches families, communities, and those still searching for their way forward.

When we wear our Recover Loudly shirts, we aren’t just celebrating recovery—we’re helping break down stigma. We’re telling the world that recovery is possible, that it matters, and that it deserves to be honored and celebrated.

This Recovery Month, let’s keep sailing forward together. Let’s cheer for the daily victories, celebrate the milestones, and remember that recovery is not only about the destination—but about the strength it takes to keep going, one day at a time.