My name is Valentina Atencio and I’m a woman in active and sustained recovery. What that means to me is I haven’t had to use any substance since April 10, 2018. What originally brought me to long term recovery is the despair of addiction. I suffered thoughts of suicide until a friend reached out to me. Fortunately, she was five months into recovery at the time. Most importantly, the lesson I have learned from this is the importance of connection. I stand firm on the belief that the opposite of addiction is connection. 

I have stayed connected to my community, 12-step programs(AA & NA), and also Advocates for Recovery Colorado; this has increasingly been a keystone to my support system for my recovery. Especially through the divorce of my ex-wife when she was in active addiction to the bitter end of her fatal overdose last month. Recovery gave me the opportunity to walk through the harsh process of loving a person with a substance use disorder with healthy boundaries while also presenting the message of hope. Today I’m a hope dealer to the those that still suffer. I choose life; therefore, I’m able to stay present and show up for not only myself but for the people that are important to me. 

My goal is to make myself available to others in recovery and to encourage change with a positive holistic view where the goal of recovery is to enrich their lives. I strive to be an incredible light that will eliminate the darkness of addiction for the those still suffering in the community. I will continue to provide hope, faith, and courage to anyone who may be lost or lacking. I am grateful to have crossed paths with so many walks of life and to be able to solidify friendships in recovery. 

I’m truly passionate about helping others to find their way out of the bleak existence of living with a substance use disorder. I believe that my purpose is to help those who cannot help themselves and to allow those who have lost their faith in themselves, find it again. Since coming into recovery, I have inspired not only myself but so many other people to continue moving forward when the road looks too difficult to trudge. I have many years ahead of me to provide hope and help that so many living with a substance use disorder might never receive.