Brandon came to Skyline Recovery after attending a wilderness therapy program in Utah. Skyline called to him because of its setting and approach to recovery. Brandon arrived at Skyline as a client, but left as a friend and inspiration for many of the younger men in the program.
When Brandon arrived, he was scared to relapse, but was also looking forward to getting back to some semblance of normal life. What he found was an environment of freedom and accountability; perhaps the perfect setting for him.
“It’s the perfect balance of what you need and how you can be self sufficient. The most important part of being sober is getting to know yourself. If you always have someone telling you how to think, you’re not actually doing it. I think that’s why it’s so successful.”
Brandon’s six month stay at Skyline helped him discover his sponsor, a sober community, his best friend, and a new home; all facets to a successful path of recovery. Nearly a year later, he attends AA meetings at the house, chats with Brennon regularly and sees each of the founders as friends.
The outcome of Brandon’s stay was due in large part for his drive to stay sober and reclaim his life. His motto became to take it one day at a time and squelch any comparison:
“The only person you should compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday. I struggled comparing myself to my friends, but no one is on the same path that you’re on. That’s the only path you need to worry about. Patience is a huge trait to have. Everyone is so reactive. It’s nice to be part of a community that is responsive instead of reactive.”
The next step in Brandon’s life is to become a field guide in a wilderness therapy program. HIs story has come full circle as he will now be helping young adults with substance abuse. It was in fact the founders of Skyline who wrote him a letter of recommendation to get the job. A testament to the longevity of the relationships formed while at Skyline.
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