What I keep thinking about after our International Recovery Wellness Walk is how one thing leads to another. Someone reaches out. Someone feels welcome. A conversation begins, and suddenly there is a person in your life who was not there before. You have someone to call, something to share, a reason to feel a little more hopeful about tomorrow.
That is what I want us to keep creating together.
On Sept. 12, 2026, people in 40 countries joined our fifth annual International Recovery Wellness Walk. Our walkers ranged from 16 to 80 years old. Some came with friends or family, some with one other person, and some walked on their own. Wherever we were, we had something beautiful in common: We wanted to be part of something that helped people feel cared for.
Forty countries means so many different lives. Different languages, cultures and experiences. People I have never met, in places I have never been, made room in their day for this.
When I looked at their photographs and messages, I wished I could reach through the screen and hug them. They were helping carry a message that means so much to me: No one walks alone.
White Hearts and Baby Carriages in Montreal
Here in Montreal, at Beaver Lake on Mount Royal, mothers from Portage’s Mother and Child Program joined us with more than 20 baby carriages. Seeing those mothers and their babies together touched my heart. So much possibility was right there in front of us, across generations.
I gave each mother a white heart and a hug. I looked into her eyes and said, “I’m so proud of you. I’m glad you’re here. You deserve a great life.”
There was surprise in their eyes at receiving something just for them. I wanted each of them to feel that she mattered, that someone was happy she had come, and that the love in those words was real.
A little white heart can be the beginning of a conversation. That conversation can become a connection, giving someone the confidence to reach out again. We never know how far something so small might go. I hope those mothers look at their hearts and remember how much we wanted them there.
My favorite book is Senior Contributor Amy Liz Harrison’s Mommy Goes to Meetings. Whenever I visit another city or country, I bring copies to give away. My favorite page makes me think about healing for future generations.
Seeing the mothers with their babies brought that meaning so close. When we support a mother, the love and encouragement she receives can reach her children, too. What we give to one person can become part of what they give to someone else.
I heard that in the stories of the young men who spoke about their recovery and the enormous role their mothers had played. Others remembered help they had received from strangers. They remembered the people who cared.
As a mother, I found that deeply moving. You can say something with love today, and someone may carry those words for years.
A Community That Begins With Welcome
There were young men and women with their own experiences of mental health challenges among us, too. We cannot know what anyone has been through by looking at them. We can welcome them. We can listen. We can be happy they are here without asking them to explain their whole life first.
And that can happen anywhere in the world.
You do not have to live in Montreal or attend a large gathering to be part of this community. You can invite someone for a walk where you live. You can call a person you have been thinking about. You can introduce two people who might find comfort in knowing each other.
You do not have to have the perfect words. “I’m glad you’re here” can be enough to begin.
One invitation can lead to another. Someone shares a photograph, and a person in another country discovers us. That person reaches out, joins a conversation or invites a friend. People who might never have crossed paths now have a reason to connect.
This is how our movement grows: through the care people bring to it and the connections they make with each other.
We do not need to speak the same language to want someone to have a good life. We do not need to have the same history to recognize hope in each other. Wherever you live, you deserve people who are pleased to see you, who listen to you and who believe there is so much ahead for you.
The true influencers, to me, are the people who showed up. The ones who invited someone, shared our message, walked or quietly helped another person feel included. Their kindness gives others something to build on. I am so grateful to them.
Keeping the Connection Going After the Walk
Sobriety is the tip of the iceberg. Wellness includes our mental health, movement, yoga, art, learning and being open to experiences at every age.
A conversation can introduce us to something we have never tried. Someone else’s enthusiasm can help us discover what makes us happy. There is so much we can learn from each other when we stay open.
Whatever brings us to this community, we all deserve opportunities to feel better, to grow and to enjoy our lives with people who want the best for us.
International Recovery Day is observed on Sept. 30, and our Sept. 12 walk honored that day. But we have to continue walking, connecting and caring every day.
I want the person who felt welcome at our walk to feel welcome afterward, too. I want the conversations to continue and the invitations to keep reaching new people.
Forty countries walked with us. Think of all the connections still waiting to happen. One heart can change a moment; many hearts can change the world.
No one walks alone.
SOBER EVENTS at The Sober Curator keeps you in the loop on alcohol-free gatherings happening nationwide. From sober comedy shows and non-alcoholic tastings to festivals, retreats, and sporting events, we highlight vibrant, community-driven experiences from coast to coast. Our goal? To keep you entertained, inspired, and connected—no matter where you live. Need more sober time than one event? We’ve got your back with our Sober Retreat Calendar.
📅 Submit a Sober Event: NA tastings, sober socials, recovery conferences, fitness meetups, alcohol-free festivals, virtual gatherings, and events of all kinds. Anything that gives our readers something worth showing up for. Submit your event →
🏝️ Submit a Sober Retreat Recovery-focused, wellness, spiritual, creative, and adventure retreats. Listings start free. Featured and Sponsored placements available for retreats that want full editorial coverage. Submit your retreat →
Recovery isn’t the end of the story.
Recovery has been framed as survival. Staying sober as maintenance.
We’re interested in something else.
Not just getting through life — but actually engaging with it.
Identity.
Culture.
Celebration.
Taste.
Expansion.
This is the room where the conversation finally aligns with who you’ve become — and where you’re going next. LEARN MORE AND JOIN TODAY →
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.
