This interview is based on a conversation with Lisa Devine, 37, a candle studio owner from Queens, New York. It has been edited for length and clarity.
People often ask me why my Mom and Pop’s arts-and-crafts studio in New York is called “2nd Chance Candles.”
The answer is simple: your past doesn’t define your future, and everyone deserves a second chance.
I’m living this truth after overcoming an addiction that nearly killed me. I am now sober, running a business that brings me joy and fulfillment.
I got kicked out of the college dorms
I’d always been a great kid growing up in Putnam County, New York. I had a high GPA and planned to start a career in dental hygiene.
But the alcohol and weed in which I dabbled during my senior year of high school took hold in college.
It was a dry campus, and I got kicked out of the dorms after being caught drinking with friends. I didn’t have a car, so I couldn’t commute. At 19, I had to move back in with my parents.
Courtesy of Lisa Devine
Back at home, I couldn’t follow the rules. It was a small town, and I left for New York City. Real fast, I got my first job working in a café.
I’d come home after work and smoke pot. Then, in 2011, someone offered me heroin. I knew I was in trouble when my dealer didn’t pick up one day, and I started to throw up from withdrawal.
When you’re a functioning addict, your new normal is under the influence. If I didn’t have drugs, I didn’t feel normal. Still, I kept getting high while holding down my job.
I went through a 5-day detox
In 2016, I was arrested on charges relating to drugs. I had no criminal record at that point, and I was clearly an addict. The court mandated that I either go to prison or enter treatment for a year. I chose rehab.
I’d already gone through a five-day detox. It was awful and took me about six months to start feeling OK.
In the end, I remained in sober living for 19 months. Next I studied at a trade school for dentistry.
I worked as a barista during that time, which was a great opportunity to get back on my feet. It was exactly what I wanted and needed.
Things went well for five years. Then, in 2021, I stopped caring for myself and relapsed. This time, my drug of choice was cocaine.
I’ll never forget those incredibly miserable days. I hit rock bottom and found the strength to check myself into rehab. I worked hard on my recovery, and my new clean date is April 2022.
Meanwhile, my partner had read up about the candle-making business. He suggested it might be a good way to make money; a means for me to become the upstanding person in society I longed to be.
I host groups like the Girl Scouts
I started making hand-poured candles at home and opened a brick-and-mortar store in October 2023. I felt immensely proud of how far I’d come.
It made perfect sense to call it “2nd Chance Candles.” I loved telling customers about the name because it’s inspiring.
I sold my scented candles in jars. The real joy came from doing workshops for groups like the Girl Scouts. I got such a kick out of the sessions because I got to share my craft.
Courtesy of Lisa Devine
I’m an open book, and though I don’t particularly like talking about my past, it’s a good conversation starter. A lot of people in the community know my recovery story and give support.
I’ve vowed never to return to my addiction because I’ll always remember the horrible fog of my 20s and early 30s. It’s terrifying to think I could have died from an overdose.
As for work, I’ve hosted many fun events, including kids’ birthday parties and corporate workshops. We’ve branched out into slime-making and drop painting with acrylics, and I employ part-time staff to help in the studio.
If I could give my younger self advice, it would be this: You are not your worst mistake. Shame keeps you stuck longer than addiction does. Ask for help sooner, and know that rebuilding and success are possible.
