Good afternoon, my name is Kelvin Lane.
I was using alcohol. I was homeless - I've been homeless off and on for five years. My addiction kind of got real bad because I became angry, depressed, lonely, sad, not eating properly like I was supposed to. My life started going downhill, and I got depressed. I was using alcohol. I just wanted to drink and feel like the problem would go away, but it was still there. I just got tired of me. I didn't care anymore. You know, it's like whatever life gave me, that's what I took.
When I woke up, I was wrapped up looking like Robocop with all this stuff on me. I was kind of freaking out. As I was laying in bed, I did some self-talk and told myself “I need help”. I asked the lady, could they take me? I said that this is where I want to be, I know I can get help. I could be able to come here and get my problems out, talk about them to other people who are in recovery. What you put into it is what you will get out of it. Through a lot of deep focusing on myself and knowing what I want out of life. Do I want to be free from alcohol and drugs? Since I've been here for the last 60 days, I feel better. I love me. I can think better. I can talk better. I feel normal.
I give this program a thumbs up, a five star. The community that I've been with in class, I learned a lot from them as well because I always thought that I was the only one going through something. But now I understand what triggers are, so when they come, I just have to be active, keep moving. That's why I'm going to another program. So I just keep on striving.
People around you are sober and have a positive outlook on the program. But the program is good. It helped me. And it's helped not just me but many other people. So, you have to stay focused. Don't let the little things get in the way. You just have to know what you're coming to the scribe for. I would say if you want to come here and you're struggling with your addiction, it's time to wake up.
You don't want to be stuck at the bottom. You want to come up from that bottom to where you can see the light. And it's here for those who are out there that need it. Come and get it. It's here for you.
My name is Kelvin. I found my way home, and now you can find your way home too.