Day 3: Recovery Steps

One Week on the Streets

Series Intro: One Week on the Streets

Day 1: Movement

Day 2: Anxiety

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Day 3: Recovery Steps

After having a hot breakfast of eggs, bacon, and grits, I decided to make a call to Swain Recovery in Black Mountain. They have a 42-day residential program that will allow me to focus on my addiction and mental health issues without incurring all the stressors that come with life—especially with life on the streets.

I need help merging with the sober world and society as a whole. It has been a long time since I’ve done so. I feel like I don’t fit. I don’t even know if fit is a good word. It’s like I want to make plans for the future, but how can I do that when I don’t even know where I’ll sleep each night?  Swain may give me the time and guidance I need to take the first steps into LIFE.

The shortest path to the liquor store is down a slippery slope.

I called and got a phone tree that wanted my name and  number so they could call me back. I was calling from the VRQ house phone, so it was not possible to leave a number. I don’t have a phone and haven’t had one for a long time. I’ll try calling from somewhere else.

Went to an AA meeting this night. My first one since I quit. I didn’t go because I was thinking about drinking. I went to try and find out what other drunks did if they had found themselves in my predicament. The meeting was small, about nine people. Finding an AA home group takes a while. You have to shop around. Not all are going to be a good fit. The same goes with getting a sponsor. I found out that it’s easy to take the first sponsor that offers to be one for you. That’s also a mistake. You have to get to know people first.

There’s a lot I could say about my choosing a sponsor, but I’ll save that one for later.  

I Am Vince.

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One Week On the Streets was first published by Speak Up.

Speak Up is a 501(c)3 Public Charity that gives a voice, creates opportunity, and builds community for people facing homelessness. Read Speak Up.

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