Client Highlight: Sun K.
Can you describe the moment when you realized you wanted to start your journey of recovery?
The moment when I realized I wanted to start my journey to recovery was really the moment when I lost everything. I lost my house, I lost my relationship, and then I lost my brother and I lost my son. I can remember specifically, it was in mid-December and I I was living out of my mother's van, and I woke up one morning and it was below zero. All I had was a blanket. All the windows were frozen down. I can remember at that time I was kind of fed up with everything. I wanted to do something different and I knew that going back to my old habits wouldn't change anything.
What have been some of the most significant challenges you’ve encountered and how have you handled them along the way?
I think some of the biggest things that were very difficult were dealing with my emotions, such as the depression that comes with me missing my son. A lot of it has to do with the fact that I want to kind of have family around me, but I have understood that I'm on this journey to recovery. I have to be patient most of all during this journey. I have to believe there is a time that I can be with them again. I have to work on myself to be a better person, one that I envisioned myself to be. I need to learn how to deal with my emotions when I miss my son. I have to remind myself that it's okay to feel those feelings, but to not let those feelings take away all the things that I have built so far.
Have you discovered new activities or practices that have positively impacted your recovery?
Every night before I go to sleep I always tell myself that I am abundant. I tell myself that I am enough. I know that deep down inside I can do more to be who I've always envisioned myself to be. The self reassurance alone has kind of given me a drive. Another practice is being kind to one another.
What Driftless Recovery services have you/do you participate in? What have you found helpful?
Driftless Recovery Services gave me the opportunity to be in SOP with Sarah. Then I also have a therapist at Driftless. I see Ryan Frank. What they were able to provide for me was a beautiful safe place to allow me to express some of those things that I'm not able to out there in the real world. For instance, the grief that came with losing my brother. The help I received at Driftless plays a big role in why I’m the person I am now. Seeing Ryan and being at Driftless has allowed me to let those feelings out and it's made me a better person today.
What are some milestones or achievements you feel proud of?
One of the milestones that I am proud of is being able to become a recovery coach! I'm helping others navigate through their recovery. Something as simple as just listening to them and understanding what they're going through and then sympathizing with them through my experiences.
What have you learned about yourself during your time in services?
What I've learned about myself is I'm able to see life in a beautiful way again. I’m able to be in the present, rather than be haunted by my past or things that were done to me in my past. I'm able to see the moments that a lot of people can see. I feel that in today's society we're all just so busy with everything going on. I've learned to build a better connection with another based on who I truly am.
What plans/goals do you have for yourself moving forward?
I have a son, his name is Nolan. My main goal, or what I want to achieve, in the long run, is definitely to become the man that I have always envisioned my son to be. Hopefully he can see me as an example of how a man should be.
Final message to the readers:
If you're ever in the position where all you see is just dark and you don't know what's ahead of you and you're scared, always know that Driftless is always there for you. Please know if you ever need to have anything to pull you out, Driftless Recovery Services definitely can help you be who you are or who you were always meant to be.
