From the outside, Scott looked like he had it all. A thriving career in corporate leadership. A beautiful home in Ohio. A reputation for charisma and talent that made him the life of every gathering. To his community, he seemed successful, confident, and untouchable.

Scott’s story begins with music. A gifted singer and storyteller, he rose through the Christian music world, traveling across the globe, singing in churches, and even performing at national and international events. His songs carried themes of redemption and hope, but privately he struggled to believe he was enough. When his sexuality collided with the industry’s expectations, doors closed. At just 28 years old, contracts ended and his career unraveled. “I began to self-medicate,” he recalls. “Alcohol and prescription drugs became my way to quiet the loneliness and the sense that I wasn’t good enough.

Over the years, Scott found success in new ways. He built a career as a corporate curriculum designer, traveling the world and leading major projects. While the word saw a polished exterior, inside he was crumbling.  Addiction had taken over. Behind closed doors, he reached for bourbon just to cope—sometimes as early as 6:30 in the morning to keep his hands from shaking near the end of his addiction. He leaned on anxiety medication as well, trying to stay a step ahead.

It all came to a head when Scott was hospitalized with cirrhosis of the liver. Doctors told his family he had only days to live. “Everyone was saying goodbye, but no one asked me what I thought. And what I thought was—I’m not done living yet. There is more that I want to do. There are songs that I want to sing. There are stories that I want to tell. There are places I want to travel.

That refusal to give up became his turning point. He thought of his family who he couldn’t bear to leave grieving. And he thought of himself, realizing deep down that he was not finished with life.

On September 28, 2022, Scott walked into his first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. He was weak, using a walker, and looked like he wouldn’t make it. But step by step, he began to rebuild. With support from his medical team, his partner Steven, a compassionate recovery community, and his own daily choices, Scott now strives to live differently. He prays. He meditates. He swims. He eats mindfully. And above all, he stays sober.

“Recovery, for me, wasn’t about stopping drinking or staying sober,” he says.  “It was about learning how to live a sober life which was more rewarding than any type of anesthetic I ever tried.”   He calls it “green button living”—choosing peace, making sober decisions, and aiming for progress, not perfection.

When asked what message he would share with someone struggling, Scott doesn’t hesitate:

“There is a better way. There is a more hopeful life, and nothing is insurmountable. Whatever you think is the worst about yourself—you are not alone. I once believed I had done the worst things, but I learned I wasn’t unique, and I wasn’t beyond hope. Your circumstances are not the end of your story. There are people who want to help you fight for your life, but you have to take the first step. Admit that you are powerless over your addiction and tell someone who is willing to help. You already know how to find a drink or a drug; use that same determination to find recovery. Hope is closer than you think.”

What Scott is most proud of today has nothing to do with his career or reputation. “I am proud of being honest about my life and admitting my powerlessness. I am proud of loving myself and knowing I am a kind and thoughtful person. I’m proud of my green button living—choosing a peaceful day, making sober decisions, and allowing progress to be the goal.”

On the outside, Scott’s life once looked picture-perfect, while inside he was fighting for survival. Now, in recovery, his inside more resembles his outside- hopeful, honest, and at peace.

At 55, Scott is living proof that recovery is possible. His story reminds us that no matter what it looks like on the surface, anyone can be struggling—and anyone can find hope and healing.

If you or someone you love is struggling, there is help and there is hope.