A Second Chance

What a great opportunity to share personal experiences of recovery. I will be brief if I can be. LOL (Laugh out loud)!

I know I feel I have had a second chance in life since my experience at Chandler Valley Hope. Recovery for me was letting go of running the show and let people in to know who I really am. While I was at Chandler Valley Hope this was a joke among the nurses and my counselors. My first week of stay was to direct the staff from there on out it was getting serious about my recovery and this was reflected on my assets in hot seat. I truly believe I have been given a second chance at life and have woke up again sort of speak.

I am listening more and reaching out more to people in serious recovery. My most important step in recovery was step 3 and letting my higher power take over the show, not me! I am calling people in the program. I truly care about people and myself again. It is "One day at a time for me". I know this sounds cliché ¢ut it is true. This is my second go around and to date some of the greatest people I have know in my life are AA program people. God is not done with me yet, though I thought he was at one point of my disease. I had burned all my chances and bridges, so I thought. I was given a second chance. Why? I do not know nor am I questioning it.

I have a friend name Pat who has quite a few 24 hours. Mickey and Pat always showed up at Chandler Valley Hope faithfully for our Alumni and Big Book meetings. I figured they had done something that I had not. They have been sober and serene with quite a few 24 hours behind their belt. Even though I do not live in the area they still call and give me their experience strength and hope. Pat told me I help him as much as he helps me. How can this be? Pat has 37 years of sobriety and is right off of Park Avenue in Manhattan.

I hope I can emulate the great people who have touched me in this great road of discovery and recovery. Today I feel blessed and yearn to work the steps to obtain the 12 promises this program offers if you work it. Little did I know this is what I had been looking for all of my life as far back as I can remember. This program gave me back the desires of my heart. MY GOD who is LOVE and in the process I am learning to see myself as God sees me. This is the greatest gift anyone can receive in this earthly life. A far cry from when I was using and drunk.

Thank you for all you do to save the lost and hurting in this disease which we know is cunning, baffling and powerful. We did not ask for our disease but we have to find a way to live with it. My God is all powerful and AA has been the only way which works for me.

Sincerely,
Vickie St.
Former Patient, Chandler Valley Hope

By: Vickie St.