Reflection On The Recovery Movement
It’s been awhile since I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with you, and I hope all is well. I am contacting you in regards to an increasingly paramount concern I have with the legal representation for folks with pending criminal, or civil charges in our community. The last time we spoke in April was during WRAP (Wellness Recovery Action Plan) training, and I inquired how to become more involved in the “big picture” with the recovery movement. Your response was encouraging, yet a challenge for me as an inexperienced PSS (Peer Support Specialist); you asked me to look for opportunities within the recovery movement, aspects that can be improved. In essence, what needs to change, and what can I do to contribute to that transformation! I have had
many rewarding opportunities within my position thus far. The most recent being an event that I thought was a coincidental encounter with a person from the Early Recovery Group I have been privileged to instruct Friday mornings. This particular occasion lead me to an epiphany; it is the missing link, a flaw that needs to be addressed and adjusted accordingly. The encounter with the gentleman from group asked me to support him with his legal battles in court the next day, which was when I was given an opportunity to advocate for him in effort to avoid incarceration. I was called to speak in front of the judge as a testifying witness to his success in recovery, and the judge not only dropped the probation violation charges, but allowed him to be dismissed from probation as well. The attorney and probation officer agreed that it was my being there that allowed him the freedom and ability to continue his pursuit in recovery. While I accepted the gratitude, I knew that it was his determination for prosperity in recovery that landed him the positive outcome he sought. Like he told me, “I was just too intimidated to do it on my own because I didn’t really know what was going on” (he was referring to his pending charges), but, he knew he was “doing good in recovery” and wanted support illustrating that.
many rewarding opportunities within my position thus far. The most recent being an event that I thought was a coincidental encounter with a person from the Early Recovery Group I have been privileged to instruct Friday mornings. This particular occasion lead me to an epiphany; it is the missing link, a flaw that needs to be addressed and adjusted accordingly. The encounter with the gentleman from group asked me to support him with his legal battles in court the next day, which was when I was given an opportunity to advocate for him in effort to avoid incarceration. I was called to speak in front of the judge as a testifying witness to his success in recovery, and the judge not only dropped the probation violation charges, but allowed him to be dismissed from probation as well. The attorney and probation officer agreed that it was my being there that allowed him the freedom and ability to continue his pursuit in recovery. While I accepted the gratitude, I knew that it was his determination for prosperity in recovery that landed him the positive outcome he sought. Like he told me, “I was just too intimidated to do it on my own because I didn’t really know what was going on” (he was referring to his pending charges), but, he knew he was “doing good in recovery” and wanted support illustrating that.