MADELINE HEBERT’S OVERCOMER STORY
MY CHALLENGE More than nine years ago, I was struggling with addiction. What started as experimenting and having fun became something I could no longer walk away from. I also was navigating attention deficit disorder, premenstrual dysphoric disorder and things I didn’t know how to process. Somewhere along the way, I lost myself. I stopped trusting myself and believing in what my life could become. But that was not where my story ended. THE HARDEST PART Recovery taught me that getting sober was only the beginning. I had to learn to walk through uncomfortable things instead of running from them, build healthy relationships, take responsibility for my choices and keep moving forward even when I was afraid. Most importantly, I had to learn how to believe in myself again. God placed mentors and friends in my path who encouraged me, taught me and believed in me before I knew how to believe in myself. BUILDING CONFIDENCE That lesson followed me into years working as a certified peer support specialist professional through the Mississippi Department of Mental Health, where I used my experience to support and encourage others. It followed me into real estate, building Hebert Contracting LLC alongside my husband and learning to take risks even when I was unsure. It followed me into running half marathons. I never imagined I would choose something that hard and keep going when I wanted to quit. Running taught me the same thing recovery did: Hard does not mean impossible.
WHAT LIFE IS LIKE NOW I have been sober for almost nine years, and wow, what an incredible blessing it is to be able to say that. Today, I get to raise four kids, care for our farm animals, help people through real estate, build a business with my husband run half marathons and chase goals I once thought were impossible. I love using social media to show people what life can look like in recovery. Recovery is not the end of your life. Sometimes, it is where your life finally begins. WHAT I’VE LEARNED I still doubt myself and get scared, but I no longer let fear decide what I am capable of. Sometimes you must do the scary thing first, and confidence meets you on the other side. MY ADVICE TO OTHERS Please do not decide what the rest of your life can become based on the season you are standing in right now. Take the next step. Ask for help. Let people teach you. Surround yourself with people who see your potential and keep going. People grow. People learn. People change. I know that because I did. Your past can be part of your story without defining your future.
November 2026
44
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator