For the month of January, Fellowship RCO would like to recognize Chris Seitz.
Chris came to Fellowship in December 2013 and left in July of 2015. His willingness to help others, and his continued growth is truly an inspiration to many of us. He is a model alumni of Fellowship RCO.
From the bottom of our hearts Chris, thank you for all you do for the recovery community and all your support for Fellowship. Here is Chris’ story in his own words, sharing his experience, strength and hope to all of us, and showing us that recovery is possible!
When I was about 15, I started smoking pot and drinking; moderation was not something I sought out. I remember that I could get buzzed on 3 beers, so I needed my own six pack because I drank to get drunk. Eventually that led to many other substances, from pot to cocaine to opioids. Anything else I could get my hands on. I preferred to be using more than one substance in the pursuit of seeing how many days I could stay awake.
For me, drugs and alcohol went hand in hand with jails, institutions, and close calls with death. My treatment programs were the county jail and eventually prison. I could never stay out of trouble and I blamed everybody else but myself. I was like the jaywalker in the big book who seemed insane to every outsider in his life. The patterns in my life: get high, get arrested, swear I were never going to hang out with persons x, y, and z again, and repeat. I did it repeatedly thinking there would be a different outcome. By the time I hit my bottom, I found myself incarcerated and my poor mother would not even take a 15-minute phone call from me.
The last time I was in prison my father died, and I was unable to attend his service and support my mother. Facing my Father’s death alone and with nothing but time to reflect on my life; I realized I was 34 and had no possessions that could not fit in a locker, and nobody I could really call a friend. My father was dead, I was not allowed to see my son or even talk to him because his mom wanted nothing to do with me; neither did my own mother. I started thinking that I needed to look at the possibility that I had a problem.
Today I am married, I have a stepdaughter who loves me, and that son I was no longer able to see came and lived with me for two years before he went into the Air Force. I own my own home now, and the home I lived in prior to this home, I have a boat, and many other material possessions. I am a partner and leader in business and have built a solid career, and I am trusted by my colleagues. I have come a very long from having nothing besides a brown bag filled with letters and Bob Barker flip flops. God has blessed me beyond measure and promises came true that I had not even thought of. I continue to give back to the recovery community and help others with substance use disorders find strength and hope. I continue to work a program and go to meetings I chair meetings and I have a sponsor.
