Welcome — I’m Nikki, and This Is Avant

I’m really glad you found your way here. My name is Nikki, and I started Avant with the idea that recovery shouldn’t feel lonely, confusing, or like something you have to figure out on your own. I became a “real” adult in my thirties, and I had to learn how to do just about everything the hard way. I got to thinking about all the people like me who also learned the hard way. I also thought about all the things I haven’t learned yet and about how great it would be for there to be a community of recovering addicts who have left the past behind and who can help each other keep it there. A key part of my own recovery has been keeping my feet planted in the present by pursuing goals for the future. I don’t find it helpful to talk about the awful things I did back then, and I know there are others like me. That’s where Avant comes in.

Avant is French for “forward.” It’s the direction my eyes look and my feet point. Change is possible. Even when life feels heavy and hardly worth it, it is. I have found my path forward, hardly recognizing my old self anymore. I have, by many measures, found success since I got clean on January 6th, 2021. I probably could’ve gotten where I am faster, though, if I'd had a community of recovering addicts who also feel moving forward is the best way to get over the past. That’s what I see for Avant. People with pasts helping others with similar pasts, so that everyone can have a better future.

 Recovery isn’t about perfection — it’s about progressing, being part of something bigger than the self, and being fearless. Whether you’re taking your very first step, returning after a setback, or supporting someone you love, you are welcome. You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to pretend everything is fine. You just have to show up. Even if it doesn’t feel like it, you have wisdom and knowledge you can share that others need to hear. Maybe it’s something major like how you got over your guilt, or maybe it’s something seemingly small like how to bake a killer birthday cake for your kids. Whatever it is, someone needs to hear it, so they, too, can be a better, more well-rounded adult in this crazy world.

Maybe today isn’t the day you’re ready to share. Maybe you need to hear what someone else has to say. That’s perfectly perfect, too. Either way, come to a “meeting of the minds” (or MOMs – but it’s for dads, too, as well as for adults who don’t have kids!) and be a part of a community of people who get and accept you. You can also share your story by emailing your own blog post. I’m willing to bet you have wisdom I could use, and a lot of others could use it, too.

Avant offers MOMs, resources, and a community built on compassion, hope, and real-life experiences. You’ll find ideas, structure, and cheerleaders who want you to grow and succeed. Thank you for stopping by and reading a little bit about what Avant is about and who it’s for (you!). I hope you explore, connect, and find something here that helps you feel a little less alone and a lot more supported. You deserve that. Getting clean is hard; staying clean can be harder. Share the burden with others to help lighten the load. It’s the perfect time to move forward.

A step forward is a step in the right direction!

— Nikki Beaulieu

Founder & Recovering Addict, Avant

12/10/2025