Meet Gretchen, A Thrive Gives Member Who Began Her Health Journey During Addiction Recovery 

If you are a teacher, nurse, first responder, student, veteran, or a family in financial need, you qualify for a free one-year membership through Thrive Gives. With it, you’ll get access to member-only benefits from Thrive Market. Apply here. 

Gretchen has a lot to be proud of: her two children, her husband, and her health, thanks to more than a decade in recovery. The mother of two and Thrive Gives member has been sober for more than 11 years, and she counts her support system, exercise, and healthy eating as major touchstones in her journey. “When I feel good, I don’t want to look outside of myself and do drugs,” she says. “I know that working out and eating healthy are two of the main things that keep me feeling good.”

We visited Gretchen at home in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, where she lives with her husband and their two young children. These days, she enjoys doing yoga and working out, cooking for her family, and her newest hobby: baking bread from scratch. Her daughter, Camille, loves fresh-baked bread so much that Gretchen learned to make her own sourdough starter, and now she always adds bread flour to her Thrive Market orders so she can make loaves of fresh bread for her family.

It’s hard to believe that just over a decade ago, Gretchen was at her lowest point. She remembers picking up the phone to call her best friend, telling her that she needed help to get sober, as the moment that changed everything. “A lot of times, it’s that first step of just asking for help,” she says.  

During her journey toward sobriety, Gretchen has come to realize that when she takes care of herself and feels her best, she’s able to be a better mother, a better wife, and a better friend. “It feels good to be able to share my story, to inspire others, and to hopefully give them hope,” she says. 

To learn more about Gretchen and her family, check out the video below.