Someone once said, "Music is what feelings sound like." Music calms us, ignites memories, and connects us to each other. There is mystery and power in song.

Singer/songwriter Sonia Lee understands the healing power of music. It informs and strengthens her own recovery and gives her a meaningful way to connect with other Twelve Step travelers. "I heard Sonia's Chance to Start Over CD and personally identified with the words to her music and her angelic voice," said Patricia Broat, director of Hazelden's popular Women Healing conferences. "Her songwriting touched all aspects of my being--from my shame and fear to the gratitude and spirit within that I've found in recovery. I knew immediately her story and music would be perfect for other women in recovery."

Lee has already played to rave reviews as one of the featured presenters at the Minneapolis and Tampa Women Healing, and she will be featured on day two of the remaining conferences this fall--Portland, Ore., Sept. 19-20; White Plains, N.Y., Nov. 7-8; and Chicago, Dec. 5-6.

A Rochester, N.Y., native, Lee began to sing at age three and to play the guitar at 12. She moved to Nashville in her 30s but hit bottom "trying to make music happen" on her own. "Pretty early on, I realized I couldn't go a day without drinking. I felt awful all the time, and every time I got in trouble, drinking was involved. I finally reached out to a fellow musician, and he led me to my first recovery meeting. I was convinced when I walked into that room on Nov. 2, 1995, that I was an alcoholic. I consider that a gift."

Lee's life and career blossomed in recovery, one day at a time. She recorded a collection of well-received Ukrainian folk songs, which she sang to appreciative audiences across the country and in the Ukraine. She met her husband, Chris, in recovery, and their son, CJ, just celebrated his first birthday. In 2006 and this year, Lee was named a New Folk Finalist at the Kerrville (Texas) Folk Festival, a prestigious honor for up-and-coming songwriters.

Recovery and music: 'Gifts from God'
But everything came together when her "story evolved into song" on Chance to Start Over. "There are a lot of songs on the other side of the coin about drinking and losing your dog and your love," said Lee. "I wanted to write about the things that saved my life and continue to save my life. Never in a million years, did I think this would happen. Recovery and music are both gifts from God that I love, and I'm filled with gratitude that I'm able to perform about recovery."

"Sonia touches women in recovery with her humility, her willingness to share her pitfalls and triumphs, and teaches us through songwriting many of the principles of the Twelve Steps in a new and different way," said Broat. "Women cry and laugh. Sometimes you can hear a pin drop; other times they are hooting and howling."

Lee uses storytelling, music, and song to entertain and inspire. Since Women Healing is for professionals who work with addicted women as well as for women in recovery, Lee talks about how recovery music can be used as a healing instrument to encourage emotional expression, relieve symptoms, stimulate creativity, and promote prayer and meditation. She distributes a list of observations and questions that link to the songs on her recovery CD and can be used as a discussion guide or therapeutic tool.

"When I'm in a room with 200-300 women at Women Healing, it's awesome. I know I can talk freely about recovery, and I know they'll understand. Sometimes women come up to me and express how a song has helped them. When I got sober, I realized my purpose was to share with other alcoholics. I fit in now. I've found my people. The women at Women Healing are so nice and gracious. I feel like I've come home."

Copies of Sonia Lee's CD are available at the Women Healing conferences.

--Cynthia Orange

Learn more about upcoming Women Healing conferences.

Published Summer 2008, The Voice