FAST FIVE: Ready to recover? You have a friend in Lisa Alberts

Meet Lisa Alberts, director of operations for the nonprofit Kootenai Recovery Community Center. She's in long-term recovery of seven years. Her hobbies are going to the beach in the summer, camping and riding four-wheelers. She has a passion for what she does. She gets to come to work, and she loves it. She absolutely loves helping others and wants to give back to the community as much as she can.

Generation: Maybe Gen X? I'm more old school. I believe in respecting your elders - I was raised that way.

Career and community involvement: I'm the director of operations for Kootenai Recovery Community Center and a certified peer recovery coach (CPRC). I support anything that has to do with recovery. We here at KRCC are involved with rural outreach, helping the rural areas that can't make it to Coeur d'Alene, so I want to go to them. I want to work on Shoshone, Benewah, Boundary and Bonner. I want to have an office within an office and offer them the services we have here. Also, I'm working on a Returning Citizens program and Phoenix Multisport. It's virtual right now; Phoenix started in Boise, they have a gym - you have to be 48 hours clean and sober to go into the gym, and it's people in recovery. Everybody that's running the show has been in recovery, it's all recovery. We're launching it Jan. 20 and we're going to do yoga and meditation. Also, we accept donated items such as large containers of shampoo and conditioner and other hygiene items, blankets, coats and backpacks.

Parental status: One 24-year-old son.

1. Why is it important we have a resource like Kootenai Recovery Community Center in North Idaho?

To help people find their pathway in recovery and walk beside them through their journey. Change is hard; we are here to help them. I'm my clients' biggest cheerleader. I have lived experience - I explain to people, "Just because I'm the director does not mean anything. It's just a title. I'm just like you."

2. As we head into a new year, how can we make good on our resolutions and be better to our bodies and minds?

The Phoenix program. Yoga. Meditation. Walking. I think in order to be healthy in your walk through recovery, your mind, body and soul need to be healthy too.

3. What do you enjoy most about helping people find sobriety and heal in recovery?

When I see the light come on in their eyes. There are no words for how I feel about when that light comes on. It makes doing what I do worth it.

4. What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?

That I'm almost 50! I'm going to be 50 in January! And I'm getting married. No one ever thought I'd get married!

5. What is your go-to getaway?

I'm always working! But self-care is very important in recovery. My self-care looks like being outside, being in nature. Candles. Soft music. Self-reflect on the day.