Dr. Victoria Burns: Why I Do This Work

“Sometimes, all it takes to change someone’s life is letting them see what’s possible.”

Have you ever thought about how your story might impact someone else? Not in a crazy, world-changing way—but in a smaller, personal way that could inspire someone to imagine a better life. It’s an impactful idea, and Dr. Victoria Burns is living proof.

Years ago, addiction, trauma, and chronic illness weighed on her life. Recovery felt out of reach, almost like a dream. But one moment changed everything—a single conversation with a stranger that planted a seed of hope in her mind.

A Night That Changed Everything

Let’s go back to a Halloween party during Dr. Burns’ time as a doctoral student at McGill University. She met Ben, another student, who stood out with his kindness and easygoing nature. When he offered her a drink from the punch bowl but didn’t take one himself, she asked why.

His answer was simple: “I’ve been in recovery for 25 years.”

That’s it. No lectures, no judgment—just honesty. But those words stuck with her. He was the first person she’d ever met who talked openly about being in recovery, and it gave her a glimmer of something she hadn’t thought possible.

Months later, at her lowest, she remembered Ben’s words. That tiny, offhanded comment became a lifeline she could hold onto as she started her own journey to recovery.

How Stories Shape Us

Ben’s openness revealed a simple but impactful truth: stories shape the way we see the world—and ourselves. As Nigerian poet Ben Okri once said, “We live by stories; we also live in them. If we change the stories we live by, we change our lives.”

For Dr. Burns, Ben’s story gave her permission to rewrite her own. Inspired by his example, she embraced recovery and found a new sense of purpose. Today, she’s not just thriving—she’s helping others do the same. You can too.