I am a Hope Dealer! Are You?

I am a hope dealer!

"What is a hope dealer," you ask?

A hope dealer is someone who has been down a rough path. Whether it was horrible things that happened to them or negative choices they made leading to even worse choices until one day they find themselves doing things they never would have imagined and enduring evils no man or woman should have to.

The Day the Earth Stood Still

Eight years ago today my world stopped. I tried to act like it didn’t bother me. I actually laughed at the time, because that is what I do when I am hurting. Then I drank, a lot. I went down to Florida and tried to drown my sorrows. I tried to see what chance I had of escaping the truth. In the end I found I already knew the answer.

NONE!

ZERO!

Better Life in Recovery: 2015 Year in Review

I would like to thank everyone who partnered with Better Life in Recovery this year. Whether you came to an event as a participant, helped plan an event, sponsored an event or volunteered with us to make an impact in our community I say thank you!! In 2012 we did one event, in 2013 we did 3 events and in 2014 we held 8 events. 2015 was the first year we came out in full  force.

Here is what Better Life in Recovery accomplished in 2015:

The Truth About Recovery

I have people tell me to sum up recovery for them, "In your opinion, what is recovery?" I find this extremely hard to do. I once heard someone say that recovery was like playing a country music song backwards, because you get back your house, your truck, your dog and your wife. I have gained so much in my recovery, that it is difficult to qualify or quantify what recovery means "for me."

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so instead of telling you what recovery means to me I will show you what it means to me:

7 Billion Ones: Everybody has a Story

I was featured by Randy Bacon Studio as part of his 7 Billion Ones Series. Here is the link and what they had to say on Facebook about the piece they did: 

The Unite to Face Addiction Rally

It has taken me a while to write about the Unite to Face Addiction Rally. I have really tried to think about what it meant, being a part of history. It was to people in recovery what Woodstock was to hippies 46 years ago.

Hope Dealing 101: Giving a Great Speaker Meeting

What is a speaker meeting? A speaker meeting is done after someone reaches a year clean. In other programs, it is called a testimony and done after specific objectives have been attained.

What is the purpose of a speaker meeting? The speaker meeting is done to give hope to others that recovery is possible. 

Meth PSA

I had an opportunity to do a Public Service Announcement (PSA) last year that played on a couple of television affiliates for a local anti-methamphetamine organization started by the Rotary Club in Springfield, MO. Don't Meth with Us began working with 5th grade students locally and has expanded across the state, becoming Don't Meth with Missouri. With this initiative they are trying to reduce the number of youth who begin using.

Long-Term Recovery: Why Relapse isn't an Option

“Everyone has a relapse left in them, but I don’t have another recovery in me.”

Absolutely one of the worst things I have heard.

Ever!!!!!!!!!!!

Why do so many people leave that relapse an option, stalking them every day. Is it not enough that our brains and old playmates and playgrounds are already against our continued sobriety? It was for me, so I decided to do something about it. I tried on long-term recovery and liked how it fit. Then I poured myself into recovery like I had my addiction, 24/7 and 365. I kept the momentum going and never stopped doing the next right thing!

Who Am I....Long-Term Recovery: I Am One of Those People!

Hi, my name is David and I am a person in long-term recovery. For me that means I have not used drugs or alcohol since January 31^st, 2009 and since then I have dedicated my life to helping others. I am a husband, father, sponsor, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, hope dealer, stigma killer and motivational speaker.

I was abused as a child which led to a lot of mental health issues. I used alcohol and other drugs to escape from my past and feel normal. I was introduced to methamphetamine my senior year dropped out of high school.

Over the next 25 years I died more times than I can count on one hand and went to jail more times than I can count on my fingers and toes. I thought nothing would ever change. Boy was I ever wrong. I asked God for a miracle and He answered that prayer. It was not easy. I had to work for it, so I focused on my recovery like I did my addictions.

I applied the 5 Pillars of Recovery:  

1.    Higher Power

2.    Sponsor

3.    12 Steps

4.    Accountability Partners

5.    Meetings

While applying the 5 Pillars I discovered my past had not broken me, but made me stronger and wiser. Read more about them here: http://betterlifeinrecovery.blogspot.com/2014/12/long-term-recovery-5-pillars-of-recovery.html

Today, I am a counselor for the Greene County, MO treatment courts through Alternative Opportunities Treatment Services. I have 4 college degrees including a Masters of Social Work. I am a role model for my family and the community. I sit on 3 different board of directors for local organizations. I use my past to help other people overcome their hurts, habits and hang-ups. I have gone from dealing dope to dealing hope!

Several years ago I started a nonprofit called Better Life in Recovery (BLiR) because of the stigma regarding addiction, mental health and recovery that permeates our society. BLiR’s mission is transforming lives with recovery. We deal hope and reduce stigma people who struggle with addictions and mental health issues face through community service, education and awareness events that celebrate people in long-term recovery. 

BLiR is growing steadily. In 2012 we did 1 event, in 2013 we did 3 events, 2014 we did 8 events and in 2015 we are aiming for 24. We are currently looking for funding to start a local recovery community center and finish a documentary that will be part of a program that encourages youth and helps them live amazing lives. BLiR is proving that in recovery, we go from draining resources in our communities to becoming one!

Today, I know that the sky is the limit and my goal is to give people who are still struggling the hope that they can achieve sobriety, and the people in recovery the courage to come forward and be proud of who they have become while rejoining their communities! 

I hope you join me in letting others know there is a BETTER LIFE IN RECOVERY!!

Long-Term Recovery beats Addiction Hands Down

As an addict, I lacked concern for anything other than my next high. As an agnostic I lacked accountability. For me, those combined for a perfect storm of problems. (I am not saying all addicts and agnostics are this way, but I was.)

I could manufacture and sell methamphetamine without caring about its' impact on other people. I could hurt people over tiny amounts of money and not worry about any spiritual repercussions. I could steal from anyone, sleep with whoever I wanted to and leave them immediately after with no concerns other than legal ramifications.

Life was easy and uncomplicated. Unless the police caught me, I would never be held responsible for the things that I did. Even if they caught me, I would still never have to answer for EVERYTHING that I had done to people. My life was all about me.

Featured Write Up about Better Life in Recovery from Addiction Professional Magazine's November/December 2014 Issue by Gary Enos

In his role as an addiction counselor, David Stoecker figures he can have an impact on possibly around 100 people a year. As director of the community organization Better Life in Recovery (BLIR) in Springfield, Mo., Stoecker is looking to influence the lives and thoughts of thousands.

The community events that BLIR sponsors might seem modest when looked at in isolation, but Stoecker sees them as building local traditions and putting a public face on recovery. Maybe a river cleanup event will strengthen a recovering person's resolve to continue to give back in her daily life. Maybe seeing an elected leader throw out the first pitch before hundreds of recovering individuals at a ceremony preceding a minor-league baseball game will give a fan in the stands some pause to think about how substance abuse affects his world.

“The idea for BLIR started on a bike ride with my wife,” recalls Stoecker, 42. “I felt that I wasn't doing enough, but I wasn't sure what to do.”