I met a truly extra-ordinary person today through my job. Working as a gad-about reporter, I’ve met everyone from Tom Cruise to Desmond Tutu, but the young woman I met today made as strong an impression as anyone I’ve ever shaken hands with.

She’s 23, African-American, works full time in non-profit, is the mother of two, guardian of 2 more, in recovery on several fronts, as well as being a survivor of some really horrific abuse in her childhood.

But none of this is not what most impressed me about her.

What got to me is that this young woman’s heart still sings.

By this I mean she’s still reaching out to other people, to new experience, to life–with undaunted energy, curiosity, and optimism. That kind of living, to me, is what living in recovery really is about.

Wow! I felt humbled before her. And terribly grateful to have met her. No matter how broken our worlds may be, there are people like her around to remind us that a wonderful life is out there, just waiting to be grasped.