Jimmy C: Continuum of Care

You may hear someone in a Twelve Step meeting mention “being sick and tired of being sick and tired.” If you’re in recovery, you intuitively understand what that means: the illness of addiction has made life unbearable. It’s a never-ending nightmare—but it’s also the force that pushes someone to make a change, getting them sober and hopefully keeping them sober. Jimmy reached that point, but from admitting defeat, he was able to recover.

My time at Cenikor started in 2022 when I was 63 years old. I had served in the Army, where most of my time was spent in other countries and I really got involved in drinking. I spent all my young life serving—from 1974 to 1988. Once I got out, my life changed. I no longer had to get up at a certain time. Celebrations like birthdays, Christmas and Easter became reasons to use.

Things reached a point where, in less than six months, I had totaled one of my trucks, another one was stolen, and someone hit me going over the Harbor Bridge while I was riding my Harley. It almost tore off my left arm. After many trips to jail, prison, and the hospital, I realized I needed to think about the way I was living life.

I came into Cenikor detox and went into residential five days later. I left there on September 25, 2022, and moved into Cenikor’s sober living, where I am now.

What is different today is that I’m in recovery. Before, I was just clean. Today I have a sponsor. Today I enjoy life. I have been opening my homegroup meeting for over a year as part of my service work.

My Higher Power has always been there for me, but now I was willing to let Him in. I must have an open mind, be willing to take suggestions from others, and, most of all, be honest with myself and others. I work my steps with a sponsor. By no means will I ever be cured, but the only thing that I have to do today is not pick up.