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"I am 45 years old. Before I came to Safe Harbor, I was addicted to methamphetamine and, honestly, just about any drug I could get my hands on. Addiction had become my lifestyle. I had given up on living. I had put everything I ever wanted for myself on hold because of my addiction.
I was stealing. I was living a life I wasn't proud of. I couldn't keep a job, couldn't hold anything together, and I was doing things I never thought I would do just to support my addiction.
Eventually, I ended up in the Putnam County Jail. At that point, I was tired. I had gotten to the place where I didn't care anymore. I was ready to give up.
While I was incarcerated, some of the guys and I started having Bible studies. Through those conversations, I began learning more about God, spirituality, and what direction I needed to take with my life.
I got on the kiosk and started looking for recovery programs. That's when I found Safe Harbor Ministries.
I submitted an application because I needed an acceptance letter to take with me when I went before the parole board. But I'll be honest, I wasn't looking for a changed life at that point. I was looking for a way out of jail. Safe Harbor was my get-out-of-jail-free card.
I was accepted, and I was paroled to Safe Harbor.
When I arrived, my mindset wasn't good. I thought I would just blow through the program, get out as quickly as possible, and eventually go back to the life I had been living.
But something started changing.
I began working the program. I went to meetings. I met staff and other men who shared their stories with me. I heard how Safe Harbor had changed their lives, and I started realizing that maybe my life could change too.
I didn't know exactly what road I wanted to take, but God started working on my heart.
I began growing in my faith. I started surrounding myself with better people. I began learning about my addiction, the decisions I had made, and the things that had contributed to where I was in life. Most importantly, I started learning about myself.
Then I got a job.
At first, it wasn't the job I wanted. I was worried I wouldn't make enough money. But that job opened doors for me that I never expected. I ended up loving the work, and I've now been there for almost a year. I've built relationships with my bosses, they've recognized my work, and I'm beginning to move up within the company.
While all of this was happening, I was also praying for God to restore my family relationships, especially my relationship with my sister.
We hadn't always had the best relationship. But I kept praying.
Then one day, I received a message from her. She told me she was proud of me. She told me she loved me and encouraged me to keep doing what I was doing.
That meant more to me than I can explain.
I'm getting to see pictures of my niece again. I'm rebuilding relationships with my family. I'm becoming stronger spiritually, mentally, and physically. I exercise every day. I have a routine. I have responsibilities. I have things in my life today that I never thought I would have again.
I've had setbacks along the way. I've made mistakes. But I've learned that a mistake doesn't have to become an excuse to quit.
I learn from it, I get back up, and I keep moving forward.
Today, I have 18 months of sobriety.
I have a good job. I've recently signed a one-year lease on a house here in Centerville, Tennessee. I have a girlfriend who loves me, and we're building a future together. My family is proud of me. And for the first time in a very long time, I'm genuinely happy with the direction my life is going.
I'm grateful for Safe Harbor and for the people who have helped me along the way. Chris Somerville has become a good friend to me. Chris Hillard, Larry Hughes, Julius, and so many others have helped me take the steps necessary to become successful.
I don't know exactly what God has planned for my future, but I know I'm not the same man who walked through these doors.
My goal is to continue growing, become an even greater asset to the company, possibly move into a supervisor position, pay my bills, build a stable life, and maybe one day get married.
For anyone who is struggling with addiction, I would tell you this: Take a chance on your recovery."
~ G.C.
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