I got into gangs and most of all, I got deeper into my disease.

Instagram: @garetmclendon

My name is Garet Mclendon

I am an alcoholic with a sobriety date of 

3/17/13

My experience as an addict, I will describe like this.

I never had any ambitions in life. Once I started drugs, my life came to an end. I would not draw a sober breath from that point forward. 

I grew up in Antelope Valley. Raised by my mother, I took on a life on the streets and started  selling to support my habit. I stopped going to high school in the 9th grade. Around the same time I stopped associating with my dad and sisters.

I got into gangs and most of all, I got deeper into my disease. Deeper into the lifestyle .

Alcohol, to weed, to speed, to crystal meth.

To heroin. To everything as much as possible.

From drinking to smoking to injecting.

160 traffic tickets, 20 years away from family, 15 years in and out of prison. I lost my teeth my dignity, and most of all, I lost hope. I got caught in a vicious cycle. Every time I got out from prison, people would say you’re free. I was everything but free, I would be thirsty.

Homeless living. Addicted to drugs. And addicted to the streets. 

I arrived at a treatment center on March 17, 2013. 

I saw a friend of mine , who called my name and said, “Garet, so good to see you. I have 9 months.” Walked up and gave me a hug. Big warm welcoming hug. He said, “I hope you stay.”

I sat in a transfer cell, just before I got off the van at treatment center. Reflecting on my life. Tired of being in this cycle. For the first time I made a decision.  

I graduated that program, and left 16 months after I arrived. 

I got connected while there. Got connected again after I moved. I never have stopped being involved in my recovery.

I did everything, and then found out what I liked and continued to do that. 

Recovery is a way of life. 

For me it is everything. 

I do not know how my recovery looked when I arrived. I never looked back. I threw myself into meetings, fellowship, and into service. I lost myself into service. It helped me to meet people and get connected. I found a trudging buddy and started on this journey. Most of all, I started working my steps and I started to sponsor. 

I love this part of the book. Pgs. 450-451

Tides of life flow endlessly up and down. But recovery must stay the same.

I have walked through many hard things here in recovery. DCFS cases, relationships, job loss, death of parents. Not once have I thought about taking a drink. I stay involved, I keep in the middle of recovery. I wake up and give my life to my higher power. I once lost hope . And I now am grateful I can carry a message of hope. Living proof this program works all the time . When willing to do the work. Most of all I must remain willing at all times.

Maintaining Sobriety:

The more time I get in recovery.  the more work I have to put in. I have to work on me more and more. I have had commitments all through my recovery. The commitment changes, but I stay giving back to the program. I stay connected to people who have more time than me. I listen and watch them trudge this road. I stay helping and sponsoring. I stay carrying a message, and to this day I have a panel, and a commitment in convention every year. I stay reading the book with a newcomer. 

I go to meetings on a regular basis, I have a home group: (Rafters; Newhall CA) 

Getting to do the steps with my sponsor was just a beginning. It was the basis of what I must do to maintain my sobriety. I learn about me by listening to you. God speaks through me to you. God reveals himself in you to reveal to me a solution. 

I lived an indisciplined life. Selfish life in addiction. 

Freedom through discipline.

Open mindedness .

Consistency.

Willingness .

I can only say to those out there who are new. 

Go out there and get involved, try everything, do new stuff, meet some new people, just start doing. Busier  you stay in recovery, the more you don’t have to think about you.

I hope you just don’t take the steps and stop. I hope you let the recovery flow through you. I hope you find your higher power, most of all, I hope you create a relationship, loving relationship with the person you have been running from your whole life: 

You.