This piece was shared with a THRIVE group facilitator by a participant during a visit to the jail. It’s published here with respect and permission.
“Hello to all my brothers and sisters in recovery or just reading this, hopefully on your way at least to recovery. I have written before, and today I was just thinking about how great it would have been if I had known about THRIVE in my early years of addiction. For me, boredom is a huge trigger. Today, I can imagine freedom from this disease outside of jail, envision it, and manifest it thanks to the message from Jason Mayo and the wonderful, caring brothers & sisters at THRIVE.
The one thing that AA & NA say is that addicts who want recovery must find a higher power, and over the last 13 years, I have not been able to get there. After hearing Jason at the D.A.R.T. program here at N.C.C.F. (jail), I made it my mission to dive into my relationship with my higher power.
Because Jason came with this message about this place that we could come and congregate with other addicts without being judged. We can take courses if we are just coming home from prison or a long-term rehab and have decided to start fresh (no friends). We have peer support coaches at THRIVE, pool tables, video games, and so much more.
It’s kind of going to sound greatly crazy, but a clubhouse for people in recovery and their family and friends and it’s free. WHAT! What a blessing. 37 years I have been battling this disease, and finally, after 13 years of getting 6 months here, 9 then 1 month and relapsing, I have almost 9 months right now. This time I have a solid plan that includes THRIVE as well as going to meetings, and most importantly, I have my higher power, which truthfully, gave me the ability to feel this weight get lifted off my shoulders. I felt free for the 1st time as an adult in my adult life.
None of this is easy for me to admit to anyone, although I feel it is necessary that my brothers and sisters in recovery know that they are not alone in this battle, thanks to THRIVE and the people who want us to succeed, who want to be part of our support group and our recovery.
I am so looking forward to getting out of this situation I am in, becoming a recovery coach, and getting involved with THRIVE. I know in my heart that that is what is going to happen and I am so thankful even if it doesn’t. I do know that people need to know about Thrive, so I will be telling everyone inside prison who wants recovery and change about it.
Life isn’t always unicorns and rainbows because we are now sober but at least, we know that whatever it is that we are feeling that we do not have to feel it alone and that there is a safe place we can go to for positive reinforcement if we want.
Thank you, FCA, THRIVE & to CRPA, Jason Mayo. You made a difference in me!
Sincerely, Frank A. Gouvernale”