Former “Dancing With the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke is celebrating 7 years of sobriety. She took to Instagram on July 24 to share a powerful message detailing all she has gained since becoming sober.
“Here’s to 7 years sober,” Burke wrote in her caption. “Here’s to choosing clarity, wholeness, and me. One day, one hour, one minute at a time.” The post featured a carousel of photos of the dancer, each listing something she thought she would miss once getting sober.
“7 years ago, I thought sobriety would mean losing everything. The fun. The freedom. The fearless version of me I thought only showed up after a drink,” Burke wrote.
“But what I didn’t realize back then … Was that the escape I craved was really from myself,” she continued. “And the girl I ran from? She was the one waiting to save me.”
What Cheryl Burke Has Gained Through Sobriety
Burke went on to explain that the feelings she got while using substances were false, and that her true nature has revealed itself through sober living. She expressed the ways in which she has changed, writing, “Today, I no longer chase chaos dressed as fun. I no longer tolerate connections that require me to abandon myself. And I no longer mistake numbness for peace.”
She continued, “I’ve gained … Presence. Peace. Self-respect.”
Burke also revealed that she relied on her faith to get her through the rough times. “… a relationship with my Higher Power that reminds me I was never walking alone — not even in my darkest moments. God didn’t take the pain away,” Burke wrote, “He held my hand through it and gave me the strength to rise.”
Cheryl Burke’s Message to Others Struggling
Burke’s candid and impactful reflection had fans in her corner, even some of her famous pals. “Bravo!!” former “DWTS” host Tom Bergeron penned in the comments.
But for those working through their own issues with sobriety, Burke shared a special message of hope. “If you’re reading this and wondering if it’s possible — I promise you, it is,” she wrote. “There’s a whole world on the other side of rock bottom. And it’s so much more beautiful than I ever imagined.”
The last photo in Burke’s post features her looking vibrant with a bright smile. The text overlaying the pic says that she doesn’t miss a single thing about her old life. “If you’re struggling: there is another way,” she wrote. “I promise you, it’s beautiful.
