Sober Curator Contributor in Valparaiso, IN

Megan is a person in long-term recovery, not having had to take any mind or mood-altering substances since April 29, 2009. She is also a person living with chronic illness, having been diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder, thyroid carcinoma, and fibromyalgia in 2024. Despite (and because) of life’s ongoing challenges, she is an avid purveyor of the philosophy ‘when was the last time you did something for the first time’ – forever being drawn to adventure and unique experiences like a moth to a flame.

Up until Megan’s medical diagnoses, adventure often meant intense physical challenge and pushing her body to the limits, such as training for the World’s Toughest Mudder, crawling through the Mammoth Cave system with fellow cavers, or signing up for the latest REI class to get a dose of water-based sustenance like kayaking or scuba-diving.

Now adventure could be as simple as trying a new baking recipe with her teenager, who she calls her miracle because the kid somehow wriggled out of her womb into perfection despite all the damage she inflicted on her body (ok, maybe not perfection, but a damn fine young individual). Very often, adventure means checking out a new spot on a long weekend with her partner in life and in crime (they met in prison – ha-ha, not as inmates, but both as staff – yes, Megan went from having a record herself to overseeing the entire therapeutic program for a state penitentiary to help others in need of recovery).

Perhaps one day Megan will do things like skydiving and mountain climbing again. Perhaps not. Whatever her adventures, though, she is sure to suck the marrow out of life and make the absolute most of each day with which she is blessed.