There’s not limit to where my new life will take me.
Before:
Herbert is 63 years old and has been in recovery – this time – for 19 months. He was a crack cocaine user for more than 25 years. Over that time, he had tried to quit between 20 and 25 times. But in the end, he was just never willing to stop using. At one time prior to his using cocaine, He had a very successful auto body shop business, was married, had a home, cars, and a family. Unfortunately, He was introduced by “friends” and a topless dancer to crack cocaine, became addicted to both and everything vanished. In the past he had to admit that he was simply not ready to do what was necessary to get clean. Whether or not it was pride, he thought he could conquer the addition by himself. But the struggle and pain of getting clean was always too much and he would end up using again.
After:
When he ended up at Ben Taub Hospital he reached out the HRC. Whether it was the fear of going back to the hell of addiction or the medications that helped him get away from using, he’s not sure, but it’s working. He is rebuilding my family connections. Once again, he has a good relationship with his son and sisters in California as well as much of his extended family, and he’s working. Today, he is trying to stay connected to key small groups of “good” people. “Mentally I don’t allow any nonsense from old memories to creep in. I am taking my recovery seriously. I get out of circumstances that don’t ‘feel right.’ I try to think like a man, not a child. Finally, I’ve turned to God and his Word on how to live. I think this has given me the power to stay sober, and the willingness and desire to literally “do it one day at a time. I have a desire to see what the future will be, and where this new life will take me.”
Advice for others – “take a good look at where your substance use is taking you. How many people have you hurt? Make a conscience decision to change and be willing to do the work. Stay strong and don’t give up! Find someone to help you. For me it was HRC, that’s where it really began for me. It was a big reality check.”
Learn to love yourself!