We can’t think our way into different living; we have to live our way into different thinking.

In this powerful and deeply honest episode of The Cup of Joe Show, Dennis P. shares a journey that began in the shadows of shame and ended in the light of freedom. Growing up in Chicago under the rule of a strict father, Dennis learned early to mask his pain behind humor, sports, and achievement. But even with trophies on the shelf, he says he felt like an imposter in his own life.

That all changed the day he took his first drink and felt, for the first time, like he could breathe. What started as relief became dependence, spiraling into a life fueled by alcohol, opioids, and pills. The consequences mounted with missed moments with his children, broken promises, and multiple stays in rehab, until he was forced to face the truth: he wouldn’t survive another relapse.

With the help of a Higher Power, a sponsor who never gave up, and the program of recovery, Dennis began “learning to fly again.” Today, he’s rebuilt his relationships, found lasting love with his wife Simone, who is also in recovery, and dedicates his life to helping others find their wings. Through service in treatment centers and hospitals, Dennis proves that living sober isn’t just possible, it’s powerful.

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The Cup of Joe Show explores the journey of recovery from alcohol and drug addiction—one story, one conversation, and one step at a time. New Episode Every Thursday at Noon.