about us

My name is Christopher Bilyk—Founder & CEO of State of Gratitude—and I’m in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.

State of Gratitude isn’t just what I do. It’s how I live.

For a long time, I carried a feeling that something inside me didn’t fit. I was doing “fine” on the outside—school, sports, friends—but internally I was struggling to feel whole and at peace. Like a lot of people, I tried to fix that discomfort by trying harder, blending in, and eventually numbing out.

At 19, I came out as gay. I was lucky—my parents met me with love and support. But even with that weight lifted, the deeper issue didn’t disappear. My drinking and drug use escalated. I went from high-achieving to barely hanging on. I’d pull myself together for a few months, then fall back into the same cycle—more substances, more chaos, more shame.

Eventually, I hit a breaking point.

After losing a job and moving to Chicago to “reset,” my life spiraled faster than ever. I was using around the clock, draining my money, sinking into debt, and living in fear. When my parents arrived unexpectedly and saw how far gone I was, it was the moment I couldn’t deny it anymore. I said yes to help—and that decision changed everything.

I remember the emptiness of that time so clearly: the isolation, the depression, the constant hiding. I don’t romanticize it. Addiction is dark—and it’s deadly. But recovery is real. And life can get better than you think it ever could.

What “State of Gratitude” means

Today, I live in a State of Gratitude—not as a slogan, but as a practice.

Gratitude doesn’t ignore the hard stuff. It helps you face it with a different perspective. It’s how I stay grounded, how I stay accountable, and how I keep moving forward without forgetting where I came from.

Our mission

State of Gratitude is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit built to spread hope and create opportunity. Through our products and community, we help support individuals rebuilding their lives—including creating work opportunities for people in recovery—because everyone deserves a real chance to move forward with dignity.

Why we exist

Because too many people are silently carrying battles they don’t know how to name.
Because shame thrives in isolation.
Because community changes outcomes.
Because you’re allowed to start again.

So we show up with a simple message:

Spread Gratitude Always.

And most importantly:

You are never alone.

— Chris Bilyk