400 Circles and Counting: Anthony Luna’s Journey of Dedication, Hope, and Recovery
When Anthony Luna first walked into Recovery Café Spokane in 2017, he couldn’t have imagined how much the Café would become part of his story. This Fall, Anthony completed his 400th Recovery Circle, a milestone no other Spokane member has reached.
Anthony first heard about the Café while living at a transitional housing program in Spokane. “Some of the other tenants were telling me about the Café,” he recalled. “I ended up coming down, doing new member orientation, and it just took off from there.” Even on his very first day, when he got lost in Peaceful Valley trying to find the building, Anthony’s persistence showed through. “They still let me do the orientation, even though I was like 10 minutes late,” he laughed.
That perseverance became a theme throughout his recovery journey. Anthony, who has been in recovery since 2001, says it took time to feel at home in the Café’s circles. “I was a little unsure and a little nervous,” he shared. “It took me about six months to really get comfortable.” But once he did, he found something lasting: “Peace of mind,” he said. “and a place to be myself.”
Over time, the Recovery Café became more than a place, it became his community. “I started realizing I wasn’t alone,” Anthony said. “There were others here who struggled too. We could laugh, cry, and talk without judgment.” The more he showed up, the more he saw how much everyone had in common. “Even though we come from all walks of life, a good majority of us are just trying to be better than we were yesterday, and there’s a shared understanding.”
The encouragement Anthony found at the Café became something he now tries to pass on to others. It reminds him that growth doesn’t stop once you find stability, it continues when you help someone else find theirs. To those just beginning, he offers the same reassurance he once needed: “There’s nothing to fear,” he said. “It’s a safe place, and you’ll meet people you never thought you’d meet.”
That spirit of service and self-improvement guided Anthony through eight years of showing up, circle after circle. What makes his 400-circle milestone even more remarkable is that he attended every single one without a car, either walking or taking public transit to get there. “I use my Chevro-legs, my Lamber-feeties, my five point toes, and my Shoe-barus,” he laughed. “I used to walk or ride a bike to go score drugs or alcohol, and when I got into recovery, I did the same thing, only this time I was chasing my recovery.”
Looking back, Anthony reflects on what he’s learned from that commitment. “Anyone can gather achievements by putting one foot in front of the other,” he said. “All the achievements I’ve been able to obtain came from putting in the footwork.”
When asked what goes through his mind when he hears the number 400, his answer was simple: “Feeling proud of myself and accomplishing something nobody else here can say they’ve accomplished. Grateful too, knowing my higher power walked side by side with me through it.”
For Anthony, recovery is about gratitude, hope, and self-worth. “Recovery makes me feel grateful,” he shared. “Grateful to know that I can persevere, continue pushing forward. Even when times were tough… losing loved ones, friends, relationships. I didn’t have to pick up. That’s something to be proud of.”
As CME’s Recovery Café Spokane celebrates this incredible milestone, Anthony’s story stands as a testament of what can happen when people have a place to belong, where supporting others and continuing to grow are recognized as everyday acts of courage. “Most of all, I am proud of the man I’ve been able to become today.” Anthony concluded, reminding us that recovery isn’t measured in perfection, but in the willingness to keep showing up. One circle at a time.
Written by Madi Allen, Community-Minded Enterprises Communications
