Hello, I’m Terri Anne Darling, the founder of Temperance Sober Living. My journey toward sobriety began in my early teens, when I started drinking at age 11 and was introduced to methamphetamines by my late teens. By 19, I had my first child—a son—and shortly thereafter, my first DUI. Within a year, I found myself entangled in legal troubles, including multiple felony and misdemeanor charges.

At 23, I married and had my second child, a daughter, while also buying my first home. Life seemed to be stabilizing until it began to unravel again. By 25, with the arrival of my third child—a daughter—my substance use had become more frequent, evolving from sporadic drug use to daily drinking.

I attended my first 12-step meeting at 26, but initially, my participation was more about appeasing my family than a genuine desire to change. By 29, I had accumulated a second and third DUI and faced a potential 4-year prison sentence due to getting my third DUI while on probation for the second.

At 60 days sober, I made the courageous decision to leave my marriage, taking my three children with me to escape an environment of drugs and alcohol. Over the next year, as a single parent, I worked as a bartender while continuing to fight for my sobriety.

I used my last drug on July 3, 2007, and took my last drink on November 13, 2007. Since November 14, 2007, I have maintained continuous sobriety. Through the support of a sponsor and diligent work on the 12 Steps in AA, I transformed my life, eventually achieving years of sobriety.

Addiction has claimed many loved ones in my life, which fueled my passion to help others. In 2022, I opened my first sober living house to support women in their journey toward long-term sobriety. I am deeply committed to my work and find immense fulfillment in sharing my experience, strength, and hope with the women I serve.