The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.

My story is not unlike those who have come before me, or since. I do not proclaim myself as special, or “terminally unique” as some of us refer to it as, just because I have prevailed this far in the quest for long-term recovery. I simply believe that my experience, path, and passion can be used to benefit others like me. 

In short, I struggled for years. Over and over, digging my bottom deeper and deeper. Aimlessly navigating my debilitating emotional, mental, spiritual, and even physical issues with a false compass – alcohol, other substances, and deep denial. For over a decade of my young life I attempted to reconcile my core issues by self medicating. My blind and fruitless pursuits only made everything far worse. In the end, it nearly took my life. Before the inevitable end of that dark course, filled with multiple failed attempts – which admittedly were half measures, I have thankfully found true sobriety. 

Each day I now live a life of splendid recovery. I cannot emphasize splendid enough. The gifts I’ve received as a result of my commitment number in the many. These cherished gifts have a great deal to do with said commitment, yet much as well has to do with guidance and support I have received throughout my journey, particularly at times when I wasn’t investing any effort of my own. The success I realize today was not yielded solely by my individual efforts, despite my stubbornness to “handle it” on my own... Recovery requires support. Could mean just one single supportive person or element that helps us move in the right direction before we’re truly ready to do so on our own. A truth I have harshly had to surrender to is that I could not have done this on my own. Which, I assure you, was not for a lack of trying. 

The vast majority of us who struggle require support in the beginning. My vision is that Lanturn will be that support, that guiding light for so many still lost in the dark. I get what it’s like, we get what it takes, and to offer that understanding paired with actionable resources at the time that’s most difficult is exactly what the struggling community needs. This has the ability to impact many lives. 

WILL SWETS
Co-Founder & Fellow Recovering Alcoholic

My journey on the family side of recovery is that of confusion, chaos, and devastation. The brokenness that becomes ingrained in the members struggling with addiction; I’m familiar. The uncertainty that is lived in; I have lived. The hurt from those who suffer; I have carried. There is more, much much more. Growing up with members that have substance abuse and addiction issues, personality disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, cancer, and the resentment and anger that have held them captive, it’s no wonder there was so much confusion. 

My journey now is one of hope. Hope that I’ll begin to change the narrative. Hope that I can change my thought process. Hope that I can make a difference in the stories I’ve carried, thus assisting others in their stories. It takes a village, a community, and building a community that is safe takes time and energy. 

I have searched my entire life to find a community where I belonged or felt as though I didn’t have to relive the story each time I sought help. I searched for a spot where the loneliness would subside and the love would begin; this community never came, so I created my own. I always say, “I hand-picked my people and those people are my family.” It is so true that the “chosen family” we have can be the best community we find, and this rings true for me. This is where Lanturn came in and where the desire to build something new began. 

My desire for each one of you who find Lanturn, is to feel safe, secure, loved, and less alone. This disease is a devastatingly hard disease to overcome for the loved one who has it, and the family that receives the backlash from it. Building and creating Lanturn has been the dream I always sought to build, and I’m so thankful to be able to offer a little light into the world of darkness that’s known as the recovery process. It isn’t easy, but there is hope. That hope is only found together. 

RACHEL SWETS
Co-Founder