A PARENT FINDS PURPOSE

From a family recovering journey, I have gone through the stage of typical denial, anger, and confusion.  When I finally surfaced my head above the dark water, I found not only my loved one but a lot of his recovering peers are also struggling more or less.  I found my family members and friends are still confused.  It made me keenly aware that there are many obstacles and hidden challenges along the way.  It also made me fully recognize the importance of the needed support for you.  I guess I can throw a few key words of support, like make connections, families, friends, sponsors, .. and more.  But, what strikes me the most is finding truth to ourselves, finding the value you see to yourself, and finding a purpose in your life. 

Through this, I found my purpose.  My purpose is to support you. And yet, HOW? My little lived experience, without knowing the landscape of what you have gone through, I struggled again.  Thanks for a lot of friends and families, I found comfort knowing I am not fighting this by myself.  That family peer support allowed me to believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel, that got me through the most difficult time, and allowed me to stand on my own feet right now.  I felt the peer support and peer coach that got me through this, ought to be the support to all of you and your families. This is in addition to whatever your current recovering path you are on. Coach is someone with the same lived experience that connects with you to guide you with your own decision. 

Then, I look at Orange County, and found no organization offers that.  Hence, The Purpose of Recovery is established just to offer that and more of course.  So, if this concept is new to you right now because we are the first organization to roll this out, we know there will be more in the future.  Thanks for the hard work from the team and special thanks to Merlyn and Donella, we are happy and ready to share our vision with you today.  I also want to thank my own family that taught me to be compassion and loving each other from a different perspective.  We all know recovering is a lifelong journey.  Just to know that we are here alongside you.  Again, I am glad you are with us today! 

Merlyn Karst - Recovery Ambassador