Never Alone Live
Never Alone Live is a podcast dedicated to recovery, healing, and honest conversations about addiction and mental health.
Each episode features real stories from individuals in recovery, family members, and professionals who understand the challenges and the hope that recovery brings.
Recovery is not something anyone should face alone. This podcast exists to remind you that support is always possible, healing is real, and change happens every day.
Never Alone Live
Staying Motivated in Recovery | Recovery Mike
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In this episode, Recovery Mike joins Never Alone Live to talk about the importance of staying motivated throughout the recovery journey. He shares honest insights about maintaining momentum, overcoming difficult moments, and continuing to grow even after the early stages of sobriety.
Never Alone Live features real conversations with individuals and families affected by addiction, offering hope, connection, and proof that no one has to face this journey alone.
Welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome, welcome everyone to uh this edition of Never Alone Live. Uh, we are very excited. As always, we have Sober Barbie, Krista here with us. And today we are talking with uh Recovery Mike. Recovery Mike uh awesome story. We're looking forward to talking to you. Uh let's just jump in and uh tell me about yourself. Tell us about yourself and you know how you got sober.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, um, it's a really long story. So I'm gonna go. Yeah, so I don't know if you want all that. Um no, uh, so I'm Mike Gleam, um, aka Recovery Mike, uh yeah, known as Recovery Mike. Um, man, I'm just uh uh you know an ordinary person that that found a way out of uh you know his addiction and mental health struggles and a way to uh kind of show others the way um there's nothing special about me. Um, you know, uh it started for me with uh anxiety and depression, man, and then an untreated uh mental health conditions and things like that. And um, you know, one of the biggest things from my childhood that stuck out for me is, you know, when I tried to reach out for help. The first time I tried to actually become vulnerable and ask for help, right? And uh so I asked one of the people closest to me in my family, and um, you know, they kind of consoled me and and I kind of opened up about how I felt about myself and thoughts I was having, and I didn't like the skin I lived in, we'll put it that way, right? And I wasn't happy being alive, we'll say that. So um, so things were said, and um, you know, she kind of consoled me. And uh, you know, I go back into my bedroom, and about 10 minutes later, there's a bang on the door, and it's the police, and then and the next thing I know, they're escorting me into the back of a cop car, and they take me to a psych ward, and I'm like, Well, what the fuck is this, right? And I'm like 13 and I'm like, this is like this is crazy. And uh, so that's my first experience with actually being vulnerable and like opening up about some serious mental health shit that's going on in my mind, right? And so I felt like, okay, shit, if I if I say anything about any of this stuff that I'm thinking and feeling, I'm gonna get punished. Like that's that's how that's what I took from that, right? And that's what I held on to. And I held on to that for like 20 years, man. It took the next 20 years for me to actually like open up and actually see how much that actually subconsciously programmed me late in my later years, like in treatment and in all these other areas where where I wasn't an opening up. And even if I thought I was, I really wasn't. Like, you know what I mean? Um, so yeah, it's been a long road, man. Um, the thing that finally got me sober, man, is um, and you know, I wish I could say it was like my kids that did it, or you know, my uh, you know, my family that did it, or you know, that I saved my job. I wish it could be one of them things, right? And it wasn't. It just it just wasn't, right? Like my bottom was pretty filthy. Um, you know, but you know, at my bottom, I I realized that God was a rock at the bottom for me. Um and I had to hit that bottom and and and and and meet that rock again, right? And get back into contact with that rock. So um, you know, it ended up being uh I got I fell back into a lifestyle I was living of selling drugs and doing all these kind of things. And um, you know, anybody that read my book can can, you know, they know all the details about this stuff because it's all in there and I didn't leave nothing out. Um, but you know, ultimately it led to, you know, after incarcerations and it, you know, trying to get off with methadone and sit and some boxing and it going through, I mean, so many things, right? Institutions, stabbings. I mean, I can name so many things. We go on and on. Um, but ultimately, so I end up back on the streets and I'm doing things I used to be doing. Not the best things to do, obviously. I do not I would not recommend that career path. Any young people watching, anybody watching, don't choose that career path. Um, the you're the benefits are not good. Um, you know, there's no retirement plan there, you know what I mean? Um, so uh, you know, unfortunately, I didn't care at the time read I had to get get by, and then it was what it was. So um, you know, and then uh ultimately I I went to collect uh you know $20 it was owed to me one day. And um, so got physical. Um, you know, I thought I had the upper upper hand and I and I started walking away. And I'm down to Philly at this time. This is after spending seven years homeless. This is after spending seven years homeless on a street, right? Um, and then finally getting out, and then finally, you know, relearning how to walk, talk and write and do all these things. No, this is what I had to do after. I'm sorry. So this is what led to this. So so I'm in the in the streets, and uh it kind of goes not how I expected. I'm walking down the street, the guy goes back in, and um, as I'm going on the street, it's dark out, and uh he comes up from behind me and cracks me in the side of the head with a hammer, um, shatters my cranium, um, the left side of my cranium. You can see the the horseshoe incision probably.
SPEAKER_01Oh my goodness, that that's a good looking haircut. That's it, man.
SPEAKER_00It is, but yeah, yeah, man. I don't look, I'm uh you know, and I just started wearing hats like lately, right? But normally I don't, man. And people ask me all the time, they first they think I'm a vet where I was in a bike accident, is usually what it is. Um, and then I gotta tell them no, you're wrong. Unfortunately, someone hit me in the head with a hammer, and they're like, huh? Sorry, I'm like, no, guess what? It was the best thing that ever happened to me. And then they're like, huh? And then they're like, I really like fucked up. I'm like, yeah, you don't know the lifestyle I was living. That's just like it's funny, but it opens up a conversation sometimes, too, right? And you never know who needs to hear something. Um, and like that's what God puts people in our in our places, like literally in situations like that, right? It'll open up a dialogue with a stranger, and the next thing you know, you never know where that goes, right? You know, her son needs help, or you know, uh, maybe she turns her life to Christ after I pray with her. Who the hell who the heck knows, right? So um, you never know. You never know is what I say. Uh but that ultimately is what got me sober because it put me in a hospital. So it put me in a hospital back on my back, not being able to get things, and not only that, I wasn't even gonna be able to walk anyway. I couldn't walk, talk, and write. So even if I wanted to, I couldn't even leave the damn hospital when I wanted, which was the worst. So I was like stuck. Um, but in that hospital, the biggest thing happened to me in my entire life, and it was for sure um the most profound moment I ever experienced in my entire life. Um, when I was hosting in that hospital bed, so I can't walk, talk, and write. I don't remember how I got there. Uh, my patient name is John Doe. I don't know who I am, I don't remember who I am. And as I was a kid, we went to church on Sunday and we kind of we went to church on Sunday. Uh, I was forced to go most of the time. I hated it, I didn't want to go, right? And um was forced to go. Um, but we left it there anyway. We didn't talk about it during the week, right? There was no grace, you know, we didn't say prayers, we didn't talk about it um until the next Sunday when I was forced to go again. Um, but I guess it was enough then. And this shows me now the power of planting seeds, right? Like ultimately, because in my own life, that seed planted then, even though I didn't want it, and that seed tasted sour and I didn't want it, and I don't like the taste of it, right? Uh now when I really needed it, on my literally on practically my deathbed, I hear this voice talking to me, and it's like third, like like from a third person. Um, and I hear them, and it's just it's it's crystal clear. And I know on that day at that time I was in direct contact with my maker, and the only thing I remembered, I didn't remember anything, anyone, how I got there. The only thing I could remember was scripture. That was it, and I didn't even remember scripture before it happened. Wow, so that's all I remembered, all I heard afterwards, and it's being read to me. And the biggest verse that stuck for me was Luke, Luke 23, 34 is forgive them for they know not what they do.
SPEAKER_03And it was just said that today, John.
SPEAKER_00And it was repet repetitively that verse repetitively was being read to me. It was like, forgive them for their like constantly. I'm like, All right, I get it, like I hear you, right? Like I hear it, like right, you know what I mean? Yeah, but then I didn't know why I was there at that time until I finally become coherent enough where the nurses and doctors come and tell me why I'm there. They were like, Look, we need to tell you someone because they're trying to figure out where to send me, but they know someone tried to kill me here and I can't go home and this and that. So they're like, and then I don't know where the heck to go because I don't even know who I am. So this is a whole mess all around, right? And uh, and then finally, um, what was I gonna say?
SPEAKER_01Um, I'm gonna put a pin in you for a second. Uh so right now we're in the hospital, you've had your blinding light moment, uh, but I want to talk about some people in the comments real quick. We've got a lot of friends here joining us that are excited to hear what you have to say. And Mike is an author, guys. Mike is an author. Mike has written quite a few books, and today he is giving every single person who chimes in, who's here, anybody who's watching, uh, gets a free e-book. His book is called Breathe. And and and besides that, there's also a gratitude workbook that he's giving away for free. Anybody who's listening today, can you put uh there's there's gonna be a there's gonna be a link in the comments um that uh we're gonna put in there. Anybody, everybody who's listening gets a free ebook. And I tell you, Mike, uh, I don't know if you've watched this before. I love giving away free stuff. We're gonna be giving away so we're gonna be giving away something else later on. Uh so you guys gotta stick around because we're gonna have a contest that you can win. Um, but everybody who wants an ebook, everybody who wants the book read, um the link is going to be in the comments. He's giving away uh an ebook to everybody. This is so this is so awesome. I love this, Mike. And at the very top of our comments, uh, one of the first people to be in here is Tiffany, our friend Tiffany, who's won all my contests. Tiffany, I love you. Tiffany is one month sober. Tiffany's one month sober as of yesterday, guys. Tiffany, Tiffany, we love you. We're so proud of you. And Tiffany's been with us here for uh a while, and we're so glad she tunes in every week when we're talking to people. This is amazing, Tiffany. You made my my my heart feel good right now. And uh, and Mike, you're you're giving away free ebooks to everybody.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, there's a there's a couple too. So, real quick, so once you get there too, and then if you see, go into my library there of the stuff that I've written, um, and you'll find some more free stuff in there too. So I'm giving away like three, four things right now. Uh, it's just a matter of checking them out, right? Uh, to see what works for you. They're free, give them a shot.
SPEAKER_03Sheep it if you don't give it away.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. Right. And they're they're more like most of them are more like some type of workbook in some sort, right? Like to make you kind of uh reflect on yourself a little bit right through it. And uh, because that's really what it all is, all it is, is is at the end of the day, self-improvement. Um, and what I was gonna say before, and I I remembered like two minutes after you started it's always happened. Yeah, yeah. Um, was no, was what hit me in that hospital that really made sense and all of a sudden changed everything was forgiveness, and that changed everything for me, right? Um, that verse, and then understanding what happened to me. Um, and then it clicked and uh it made sense all of a sudden. Um, so I had to take accountability for one. Um, these are the things that helped get me sober. Is first of all, I had to take accountability and knowing the fact that I put myself in every one of these pingal positions that I've been in. Every time I've been hurt, every time I've been stabbed, every time I've been this, every time I've been that, every time I've been in an accident, every time I've been broken, every time you name it, you name it. It was because of a drug or a drink. Like it's that simple, right? Like it doesn't matter what it was. Um, so yeah, so you know, um, it was a big thing for me for acceptance and and forgiveness was the other piece for sure. I had to forgive, I forgave that person who tried to take my life before I left the hospital because that because that voice telling me, I was like, I'm not gonna not listen to that. Like, I've I thought I was scared of the voice. Yeah, yeah, I was a little worried at times. I'm not gonna fear God right there. Yeah, you won't talk, yeah. You'll talk about God fearing, yeah, for sure.
SPEAKER_01You know, this is an amaz an amazing story of gratitude. Amazing story of gratitude. I'm grateful I got smacked in the head with a hammer. It's crazy. Grateful I got smacked in the head.
SPEAKER_00That's what I should have named it. That's what I should have named it. Who wouldn't buy that?
SPEAKER_01You know, when when we've got we've got people listening that are uh that are new to recovery, we've got people listening that are old to recovery that don't have the level of gratitude, and and this is it, this is what it's all about, right here. Being grateful for those bad times, those ugly times, what got me to where I am today. Our our friend in here, Tracy Levinson. Tracy says, I'm 23 days sober. I've backslid a few times. Tracy, we love you, we're proud of you. Getting sober is hard. Getting sober is hard because we have all this learned behavior that's led to all of our solutions before we get sober, and it's learning new solutions, learning all this new stuff, being grateful that I got whacked in the head with a hammer. That's amazing. It really is, and it's the perspective that we need to have. I am grateful I woke up in jail. I am grateful for the blackout that that I was I was gonna spend a long time in jail. And and it was it, I'm grateful for that today because it led me to where I am today, and people don't understand that normies don't get that. You know, Mike, I Mike, talk to talk to my friend Tracy in the comments. And I know we're going so normally we've got some bullet points that we talk about when we do these, right? And I know I'm going a little robe right now, but Tracy, 23 days sober, you backslid a few times. Mike, talk to Tracy. How can we help Tracy today?
SPEAKER_00I I mean for me, at the you know, that early on, um, you said you backslid a few times. So you have 23 days now. I don't know how many days you had the other times before you backslid, but I mean ultimately there's roots and causes for everything, right? Um, so I would really take a look at your life right now. Um, like I would really take an inventory on everything in your life, your relationships, your job, uh, just your peace, right? What's costing you your peace? Try to figure out what's costing you your peace and start there uh and see what's disturbing me most and what's making me or what's leading me to this drink. Like what's making me think of this drink? Um, and and kind of start there. Uh, if we look, if we can eliminate roots and causes, I think a lot of us wouldn't have turned out to be the way we did, right? Uh, you know, if we figured them out that way. So, you know, it's hard to say, right? Everybody's a little bit different. Um, you can get to a meeting, obviously. Uh, you know, that's another option. So I don't know if you're doing meetings, um, I don't know if you're you know a fellowship kind of person, but uh yeah, I would just encourage you to just keep getting up. No matter at the end of the day, all that matters is if you do fall and God graces you and gifts you with another day, then use it, right? Like it is borrowed time, it is borrowed time, so use it, use it, use it wisely, amazing, thank you, Mike.
SPEAKER_01Krista, what do you say to somebody? Somebody who just is fresh off of a relapse or something, and and yeah, I know you got 23 days, and I'm so proud of you, but this is for people other people, for people, anybody coming off of relapse. What do you what do you talk about? And uh and I know you and me are you and me are the same, we're one chip wonders. I haven't had relapse since my first meeting, and you haven't either. So we have when we talk to people, we've we've got years and years of of seeing it. How do you help?
SPEAKER_03Well, I love someone who has slipped a couple times, a couple many times. Um, so I've witnessed it, and um, but they say nothing changes if nothing changes, but think about it if you want something different, do something different, like what Mike was saying. Like um it just your mistakes don't define you. I I look at people who have fallen and gotten back up like you're my freaking hero. You literally are doing more than most of the world right now. It makes me emotional. Um, I it it's so hard, but the courage you have to even speak that right now is huge because most people hide it or don't even talk about it or just pretend it didn't happen. Like owning it is huge. And I mean, shit happens. We're in a fallen world. The enemy is out there, and we have to put our armor on, we gotta stay ready. Um just and even if you realize it after the fact, you're still that's something. You're you're doing something and you're aware of it. Awareness is everything too, but acceptance, forgiveness, awareness. I'm proud of you, and um, people in early sobriety are seriously my heroes. Like, if I'm so I just think about them, like I'm having a hard day, like, look what they're on day one, they're doing it.
SPEAKER_00You know, yeah. I spoke yesterday at uh impatient center, and um, and it was one I went to like over 15 years ago. Uh, and I did all the wrong things there. I mean, all the wrong things. Uh, like you name it, like I was doing it back then, and uh, you know, I thought I knew what like sobriety was, and I had no clue. Like where I'm at now, like I was oblivious to recovery. Like, I thought I knew I had no clue. Um, like, oh my gosh, when you look back, it was like you're I was so green then to the whole recovery thing. Because I always I was always on the street, like I didn't want the help. Uh I wouldn't take it, I was stubborn. Um, you know, uh, but um yeah, I spent a lot of time in those places. Um and then I forget and I lost my train of thought again.
SPEAKER_01So so like no, I'm sorry. Blame it on the hammer, blame it on the hammer.
SPEAKER_00No, and here's and here's the thing, right? And I tell people too, like, and that and and that and that it was it was going back to gratitude, is where I was going with it. Um, because like seeing them yesterday and and in the shape they were in, how rough it was. I mean, it was someone who were in rough, rough, rough shape, right? Um, but they, you know, they well, they kind of have to, they're forced to go to group, luckily, so that's good for them. They have they have to, but um, you know, there was a rough, you know, because people are, you know, we're in rough shape. Um, you know, I definitely don't envy that that seat, but I've been in those seats. Um, but I was able to kind of share of uh easily connect because I know all the wrong shit you can do there and all the secrets and all that, like you know, I mean I was like, I guess I know it takes one announce. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, but no, it was Mike, let's get that let's get let's get back to your story. So you're in the hospital, you have your blinding light moment. What was next? What was the what what did you do next? I mean, you talked about it, you know, uh you talked about programs and fellowships and stuff like that. What was what was your course of action?
SPEAKER_00So after that, uh, so the hospital discharges me uh with no aftercare plans whatsoever, uh, no neurology appointment, no, no nothing. Like no appointments that just in a wheelchair, here you here you go, be on your way, right? And it was uh it was messed up, man. It really was. Um, and uh so luckily for me, um, thankfully for me, I should say, um, and this shows to show you how deep fellowships do go. Um, there was a gentleman in a fellowship um who uh lived by himself, had a had an extra bedroom in his home, um, and was willing to take me in and live in his bedroom and and and kind of start my recovery process um there. So, you know, a complete stranger taking me in and being able to do that was uh pretty powerful and definitely helped save my life. There's no question about it. Um, you know, because where the hell else would I have gone? Um so like talk about God. I mean, he was he was right we and he was he was always there, right? But like he was right where I needed him, right when I was awakened to him, like when I finally started seeing him, right? I finally started seeing him differently. And um, I don't know, I just felt like I was given giving the spirit back at that time in that hospital, man. And and and and and I just moved differently from that point. And um, you know, and I just you know, even that, I'm just like, I'm it ain't gonna stop me. Like, that's it. And they and he gave me all these statistics, and I talk about statistics all the time because they're just numbers based off other people's opinion, I mean other people's actions. It doesn't have to be you, like, stop looking at statistics because they told me, like, you know, in five years I could die, you know, within five years, the other 50% of people, 50% die, 50% of people decline severely in mental capacity. Um, so they told me, like, you know, don't expect to be much after five years, pretty much. And uh, and they came to me too, even a year later. I'm in a psych unit, um, just getting trying to get my mind right. And they tell me after three months, like, our best chance for you is just to to spend your life in a traumatic brain institute. Um, and I just wouldn't accept it, right?
SPEAKER_03Like, as soon as they said that you were a miracle, you witnessed a miracle, you were a miracle.
SPEAKER_00As soon as they said that, I just I had a vivid image of a nurse just or a tech or somebody just pushing me up in a wheelchair to a window and just staring at it all day at like at 32 years old. And I'm like, no, no F away. Like, I know there's more in store, like I know he's got more for me. Like, if he's talking to me, telling me this, I got this far, right? I got this far. I'm on my feet again, I'm talking again. I got a terrible stutter and this and that, but like I'm I'm I'm I'm getting there. Um, so no, I'm not gonna listen to that. Uh thank god I didn't. And that's when I went the other route, and that's when um, you know, and that's when yeah, God, yeah, God showed up, man. And um, so I learned a certain set of principles to live by. Um, you know, and that was the that's what I needed early on. Um, and that set the that set the real concrete foundation for me because it was the first time I actually properly did things, you know what I mean? Um and thoroughly did things um because I really wanted it. Like, I'll do anything at this point, like I'll take, I'll do anything at this point to to to get it, uh, because I I just wanted it that bad. Um, and I just wanted to prove people wrong. There was something in me I was just like, yeah, I like they kept because they just kept telling me how bad it was, and like you're not gonna do this, and this is so bad. And well, if this doesn't go up, then you'll never think all this negative shit. It was consistent constantly with doctors across the board. And I got so fucking tired of it. And I'm just like, All right, all right, all right, watch. Like, and I'm just I'm yeah, yeah. I'm and I just I just became mute to it. And I'm just like, I I don't care what you say, like I'm I'm gonna live my life. Um, so that's what I'm doing today. Next level movement and grateful to do that. Yeah. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01That dude, that's awesome. That's awesome. You almost made him speechless. I'm done. I'm in. I'm invested now. I'm invested in the I told you you like him. You know, so so let's let's bring that to, you know, you're you got sober, and you know, let's talk about the social media movement. Uh and this is something that you you are uh you are a big proponent. You are you recover out loud and you talk on social media frequently. What got you into that?
SPEAKER_00Um, you know, uh incidentally, you know, like um I started recovering out loud, I guess I don't know which came first, honestly. Um because I felt to I felt being called to kind of recover out loud um around the same time when we were going through COVID. So like at the same time, people were getting on TikTok and getting on these things because they had nowhere to go um and just was stream and scroll and watch crap, right? Um, you know, I was working at a treatment center at the time, so I was still working because we were like essential workers, uh, because it was like 24-7 and all that, and uh behavioral health and um you know it was just uh oh god, dude. What's my train of thought again? I gotta see the neuroman. I gotta see the neurologist. So it's all good. What was I what was I just saying?
SPEAKER_03Remind me what I was like, I don't have an excuse, so remind me what I was just saying.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So so so I see it right. So I see it as like, you know, like COVID, I saw COVID as you know, the year 2020, and I was like, all right, and I and I was I don't know, five years sober or something like that. And I was just I saw it as 2020 and I saw it as 2020 vision. So I I just and I had I was out on back surgery. I hurt myself, I was back surgery, so I had time at home. I had um I had short-term disability. I couldn't get out of a lazy boy because of how my back from healing from a back surgery. Um, so what more can I do? Right, and I'm going nuts because I like to do things, right? Like so, um, but I like to create. So all I needed was my laptop, really, essentially, right? And and I started designing things and making things, and I started a uh a recovery clothing line, which you know I did for like a year or so.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I did that for yeah, so I did that.
SPEAKER_00So that was I was like, all right, check that that got that, right? Then we're like, and I just set a whole list of goals, and I really did not expect to like get to certain portions of that list, and I'll tell you, probably within under the first half of the month, they were all done, all of them. And I was just and that from that point, I was like, wait a minute, like there's there's something to this, and then I looked at how I did things and I started breaking it down more, and then I started getting to really into goal setting, and then how can you set smart like and the way to really achieve these things like like properly, not like you know, New Year's resolutions BS and all this kind of stuff, right? Like actually do things and and carry that over also into the recovery model, right? And then like help also train and kind of raise people up in a faith-based orientation, kind of too. So I'm a faith-based uh recovery coach too and life coach. So um, yeah, so I try to you know bring them up and bring them up that way too.
SPEAKER_02So yeah.
SPEAKER_00Is that your original question?
SPEAKER_01I I got sideways all the time, dude. So no, no, no, no. Good. We love we love we love tangents around here. We love tangents. That's uh that's what this is all about. You know, the the beauty comes in the tangents when we go off on a different topic, you know. Uh it was my own fault. I I already broke us off uh off schedule anyway. But um, you know, I've recently myself personally, you know, gotten into the whole TikTok recovery out loud family, and man, it has been so cool. And I mean, like, there's so many people from our so we Krista and I do a TikTok live every morning, and he stumbled across it because it's awesome, it's awesome, and you're in that phase, he's in that phase. I love it, I can't wait to get on it. It's fucking off there today, and it's so cool. And I mean, all the people in the comments, there's so many people from that we talked to an hour and a half ago, and it was so it's awesome, you know. Yeah, it is so I'm I'm I'm invested, and uh, and it's so cool. And Krista, you kind of have a simple look at she's she's over there dealing with the kids now. Um Krista kind of had a similar story. You uh the same thing happened in 2020. You started your social media stuff, right? Look at she's on mute. This is uh dead air now. Thanks a lot.
SPEAKER_03Sorry, I was handing my phone to her.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, the same thing kind of had the same thing kind of happened with you, right?
SPEAKER_03Yeah, that's when I stumbled across him and like other I didn't know you could recover that loud. Yeah, right. I was losing I I was losing my husband to addiction, and I hated TikTok because my stepdaughter was underage and she was on it literally up all night on it, and we're like, you can't she was like eight, and I'm like it got out of control. We I was like anti-Tik tock, and then I didn't know what to do with my husband, so I went on Facebook and I joined Loving an Addict Facebook pages because I mean I'm sober. Why can't you get like I didn't understand why he couldn't get it, but also our DOCs were a lot different too, and that played a huge role. And then the episode I got sober the year illicit stuff hit the streets, so I didn't really you know the deal that that different mind. And I watched I watched girls in rehab kick heroin with a Benadryl, you know. Like, um, I saw it and I'm like, if they could do it, why can't I was very narrow-minded as well. Like, I I saw it one way, and TikTok opened my eyes to the many, many ways of recovery, like definitely and I was uh in these groups on Facebook, and I I still have close friends from that those days, and our husbands are all sober, more over the world, too. Yeah, and then I made a TikTok help me and pray for me. I'm losing my husband to addiction. I had 16,000 followers overnight, no hate, nobody was nobody was commenting evil stuff. I swear the power of prayer got my husband sober, and then he's sober, and I'm like, okay, I have all these followers, and let me start. And mind you, I've been I just celebrated 10 years of recovery, but I I've been recovering very loud since I got home from rehab because I've been out of my house. And like you said earlier, like you wanted to prove them wrong. I was the town drunk, and no, and I was the mouth of the south, but I'm using my mouth for the right way, like I you know, and um seeing where my community's lacking in recovery and harm reduction, and I'm I'm showing up at town hall meetings and I'm wherever I need I'm needed, and I see um state representatives or public officials talking about recovery or whatever's happening. I'm like in their inbox or like calling them and yeah, it's crazy. It took off and like people need it, and people want to be heard, and yeah, for sure. I just giving some if it's just one person, and every time I want to take a break from this, yeah, it gives me another, you know, pull back in, it sucks me back. Thank you, you just saved my life my life, but you gave me hope for another day, you gave me hope for my husband, or yeah.
SPEAKER_00That's the and that's like the one thing I think that as soon as um and like I started locally recovering out loud, obviously, you know what I mean, before before even going online, like speaking, you know, outside, you know, at places, and um and then started doing a lot more online. But then once I saw, and I was you know, you always get that from people when you speak in person and stuff, obviously, right? And that loves there and um feedback and stuff. But then when you get that and you get that first message that says, like that will that video just saved my life, like the first time you see that, you're like, Oh, like it, yeah, yeah. It's and it's it just hits different. You're just like, oh, uh, and then and you you could you kind of feel like indebted, like uh I can't stop now. Yeah, like I can't, like, and that's how I feel about honestly. Like, if you can find your calling and like if you go find your purpose in life, and there's a way to do it, like if no one knows what their purpose is, there's a way to do it, a strategic way to do it. Um, but if you you know, I think if you fulfill if you truly fulfill um, you know, what you're what you're meant to do with what the what you're meant to do here, I think um, as far as recovery, um, walking in your purpose, uh, you know, the but the recovery aspect just becomes that much more manageable, I think.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Um, you know, and just and and find out what it is that you love that you do.
SPEAKER_01Um, okay, so wait, let's talk about next level movement.org. Let's I want to hear about what what it is you've got going on now.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so it's a uh a kind of a hybrid of things. It's kind of um so it's uh one part um kind of faith-based uh recovery coaching, uh life coaching, uh in one aspect. And then there's the you know, more motivational, inspirational speaking, um, the recovery speaking, um, you know, that. And then there's also obviously the author side of things too, which um, you know, for my own book, um, which also, by the way, big news um is uh you guys actually the first that I actually told it to, I think. I don't know. Actually, no, did I post it? I don't think I think I did post it, actually. Sorry. Um uh but the audio book is finally done for my for for my book, uh The Long Road Home. So you guys can go to um Audible um and uh you can get that from Apple. Uh they have that available too.
SPEAKER_03Is it your voice?
SPEAKER_00And that's what sucks. Unfortunately, no, and I always wanted to do my own book and and definitely uh you know, definitely do the um speaking on my own book. And um unfortunately that was part of not part of the negotiation with uh the publishing company because they work closely with Audible, um, so relationships, whatever. Um but yeah, you know, whatever. I yeah, you know, I I'll make I'll make out okay. It's fine.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, that's cool. That's awesome.
SPEAKER_00Some people even like yesterday at where they were at. I'm like, the first thing you guys need to do when you got here is get get get checkups, go get go get everything checked on, go get everything worked up, get labs done, get everything, like get yourself you gotta get yourself back, right? And there might be somewhere under the under the surface than you know, because we do a lot of damage out there, and uh, you know, this is proof of it right now, honestly. Like, because um, you know, I that's the one thing that's stuck. And honestly, I'll take that, right? Like, out of all the things that that could have happened from that injury, right? From from that that brain injury, the only thing that I'm kind of stuck with is short-term memory. And if that's it, then like I'll take it. Um but I have noticed, um, you know, obviously, right? Like it's happened a couple times, so like I've I have noticed um it's progressively gotten a little bit worse. Like, I do need to get to the neurologist, honestly, and check in, check in uh and see what's going on in in in in here.
SPEAKER_03Um that's great advice. So people don't think about that. No, no, and they're free, they're finally like, you know, ready to start their new life.
SPEAKER_00And that's like yeah, but you know, back to the uh back to the the quest at hand. Um so yeah, so you know, the other um the other part is is yeah, the book and then also the ebooks also that uh I've been writing as well. Um and they're gonna keep coming out too. Um I love that's what I do. I'm I'm a writer, like I don't and I can't even believe I said that. Even to this day, I still will never believe that I can say I'm a writer or I'm an author because I hated writing. At any possibility I can get away with it not doing it, I I didn't want to do it until until I realized the power in a pen, until I realized there was power in ink, and I was like, holy crap, this works. And uh, and that's when I was like, this is so healing. Like this is this works. Um, and that's what I did. And I and and so, and then the other stuff is you know, all this I'm just I'm constantly growing and evolving, right? Like, and so I want other people to too, also. And if I find ways to do it and new ways to do it and things to do, and um I want I want to I want to give it away. I want the I want I want the community to have it, right? Like this is a tightened community, it's a family, it's a tight bond uh community, and you know, we we that's what we do, right? We give things away, and um, you know, obviously I have a business to run and I I need to make money, but I can also still give things away. So uh, you know, so that's kind of what I'm doing with with that, and then just booking shows and and and uh and different uh engagements and stuff like that with the speaking and the different uh events that are coming up. Um there's one in Illinois coming up, and then there's another one in Indiana that we'll be going to. Um so uh yeah, so be on a lookout. It's it's the same week in October. Um, so it's in Illinois. They're on my all my on my all my socials, so just go to recover official recovery mic. You can check them there. Um so yeah, that's uh you know, that's that's kind of the the the hybrid, and that's kind of at the at the surface. There's a lot of things kind of I'm planning and I'm kind of building on and kind of working on. Um and then I'm working with Sober Life also. Uh Sober Life was an amazing company. Um so you yes, yeah. So yeah, Sober Life. Um so um I didn't have time to put the banner behind me today. I didn't get the banner behind me.
SPEAKER_03Oh, you got a banner?
SPEAKER_00I well I had to go. Well, I took it down to um Indiana. I took it to Indiana for um an event that I did over there to put it behind the uh behind the booth. But uh they got their bottle of water, yeah. So you could go, so you could go to um you could go to recovery mic um and also just go to go so use recovery mic as your promo code. Uh go to sober life soberlife.com, use uh recovery uh recovery mic as your promo code, get 20% off everything there, um, and you can get water there too. So if you buy water, who doesn't buy water? Right? Do you buy water? I'll buy water, drown the stigma.
SPEAKER_01Um so when you do these events, let's talk about I want to talk about these events. Uh if you do a lot of motivational speaking and a lot of private events and and group coaching. Talk uh talk a bit about that. What uh what do you get when you go to one of your group coaching classes?
SPEAKER_00Yeah, so um, so yeah, that's so that's kind of like two separate things, but you can kind of combine them. So um, you know, the speaking is kind of uh one in itself, but it's kind of an end, you're gonna end or right. Like if I'm gonna go to a facility to speak, like you know, you you I can speak there and do a Q ⁇ A, and then I can also stick around and then do a 60 to you know uh 60 minute to a three hour you know group for your community if you want to, um, you know, on whatever topic. And um, I have a a whole menu of them um, you know, that I cover and because I've done a lot of group facilitation and that's kind of what I do also. So um, yeah, it's it's uh it's so if you go for the speaking, obviously you're going to hear some things. I but I find also with the group facilitation, what I love about it is you know, you can speak and give somebody a message and give them some motivation, they can walk away and hopefully apply in their life, right? Or you can sit down and write things and have some people writing some things and working with people in a in an actual workshop environment where they're gonna really, really carry away some tools that they're gonna start to put to play in their life, right? So that's kind of where the rubber meets the road, you know what I mean? So, like, here's the speaking, here's what I'm doing, here's how it was, here's what happened, here's what it is now. Like, you know, if that's something you're interested in, these net, like then obviously I'm gonna help guide people that way and stuff like that, and um, you know, in whatever way that is, you know, whatever that looks like. Um, you know, so uh I'm I'm I'm pretty much an open door and an open messenger DM for like anything recovery, you know what I mean? Not a gatekeeper, no, by uh by not by any stretch, but am I gatekeeping on anything? Um, but you know, it's just it's it's it's just who I am. It's a it's it's what I do now, right? Like that that was my identity when I was an addict, right? Like I I was an addict, I was an alcoholic, I was, right? But that's not my identity anymore, you know what I mean? I don't identify as that anymore. Yeah, um, I identify as a child of God, that's it. So um, so you know, um see, I I love that, Mike.
SPEAKER_01I love the the the fact that you share your experience, strength, and hope. And that's why I was kind of leaning on this stuff. And you know, it's one thing to just share your experience, strength, and hope. People get hope from that, it's beautiful. But to give to give practical applications of things that they can actually do to change the way change because that's what it all is, you know, and we've and we talk about this all the time, you know. The this the solutions that I had before did not work for me. That led me down a path I didn't want to go down. If I want to go down another path, I have to try some new solutions. And you know, by by seeing someone who's living a different way, okay, but maybe I can do what they're doing. That's uh that's the key to the that's the key to this whole thing. And so that's why I was kind of beating it up. Um, you know, just because I really appreciate, you know, I love the idea of sitting people down and having to put pen to paper right that there.
SPEAKER_00For sure. And it's you know, it's like the old way to do it, man.
SPEAKER_03If you I don't know, yeah, you know, well, they helped us if we work the 12 steps, we had to do that. And that was uh that was it right there.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. You know, uh yeah, I used to get so mad when I was when I was facilitating groups like uh not when I'm the self-employed, when I was employed by somebody else and running their groups like for them, so I you know I couldn't get too many, but I would get so mad, man, with some of the patients like you know, they're there, and I had to remind them, and again and again, I would tell you, I would tell people like, listen, this is a 60-minute group, right? Like, I'm gonna talk about a lot of things in here, and so are other people, and I'm gonna help you some, and these people, your peers are probably gonna help you more than I am. Um, but it's gonna be a lot said, so I highly suggest you take some notes. Like, I highly suggest you write some things down. There's that and rehab there's gonna be some gems you get in here that you need to know, right? You need to know, you need to take with you. You will not remember them, right? Like, I'm telling them, like, I promise you, 60 minutes is the minute you walk out this group room door, 80 of it is out of your mind. 20 you're lucky to retain. Just as as just being human, we can't retain 100 information for an hour. You can't do it. You just can't, you simply can't do it.
SPEAKER_0210 years ago, someone gave me that same advice.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, right. And that's that's the stuff I used to not listen to. That's when I hated writing, you know what I mean? And then that's when I found out, like, holy crap, they were right all along at works, you know what I mean. Um, and then there are people that were and stuff. Um, but that's what it is. Where mine like if anybody that was ever in any of my groups, if anybody watches this that were, they knows that you know you're pretty much you're gonna participate no matter what. Like, you're not gonna get people that don't participate either, though. Um, because you know, if you're here to to to get better, then you know you're gonna at least talk about getting better, you know what I mean? Uh so yeah, it was uh well, that was a that was a challenge. And that's and those those kind of things, like I like what I do now on my own, is I can walk away from the issues that are above me that I know I can't change, right? And it's like when it's when I'm saying a surrender prayer, you know, you know, 10 times at work. Yeah, like I don't have to do that anymore, you know, which is pretty cool. So, you know, I just I I I'm a big authenticity, man. And that's the one thing I found in this whole recovery process, in all honesty. At the end of the day is my authenticity, man. I never knew who I was, I never knew who I was supposed to be. I never knew, I never knew any of that. And it took me a very, very long time to get it, and I fell down a lot of times figuring out who that was. I bumped my head a dozen times, um, a few dozen times. Um, but you know, at the end of the day, um, you know, I was able to figure out kind of who I was. And uh when I say toward authenticity, I mean like I can take myself anywhere I go and be the same person. I can be the same person at home. I can with my kids, I can be the same person with my family, I can be the same person with my pastor, I can be the same person with my peers, I can be the same person anywhere I go. I don't have to put up a facade anymore, I don't have to wear masks, I don't have to, you know, pretend anymore, right? Because I don't need I don't need your validation anymore. Like I don't need it anymore, right? Like I don't seek other people's approval, I don't conform to the ways of this world. I just it's a it's a it's a filthy world, you know what I mean? Um, and and and that's yeah, that's it. So I'm hoping somebody I'm hoping somebody got something out of that because I feel like somebody needed to hear that. That was for somebody.
SPEAKER_01That was a it's a it's you know, the the pain that we had to go through is a gift, it is a true gift because with that gift and that pain, we can actually come with an open-minded head and an open-minded heart. When we actually get that open-mindedness to try doing some different stuff and the willingness to actually go through it, you know, that's when the the gift of desperation has taken over. And you know, you go to go to so many meetings, talk to so many newcomers, and you say, Okay, what are you willing to do to get sober? Anything except you know, once once that accept is gone, once it's I'm willing to do anything, I'm willing to write. I'm willing to write, and I hate writing. I'm willing to pray, I'm willing to pray, and I don't know who God is.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, exactly. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01Anything that I can do, that gift of desperation that opens the willingness and open-mindedness to new ideas. And brother, I just want to I thank you first off for being here today and for sharing.
SPEAKER_00This was thank you. Thank you for having me.
SPEAKER_01And everybody and anybody who listens to this, because uh we've had a lot of people that have been here live with us, and uh love you all for being here. But there's gonna be even more people watching later. And uh, anybody, everybody who wants this ebook, yes, just uh go into the link and get it. And uh, and dude, this has been amazing, brother. Thank you for sharing your story with us today. Thank everybody for for being here with us today. We love you all, we're so proud of you, and uh, and together we do this. Together with me by myself, with myself will, I'm lost, but together, learning from each other. That's where the beauty lies. And uh, you know, I love you, brother. And you guys for being here. And uh, we will see see you next time.
SPEAKER_00Yes, thanks for having me, guys. God bless. Love you guys.