I quickly made friends with the people I lived with. I learned to enjoy sharing delicious meals as a community. I somehow had fun learning new skills and practicing them on work crew. I attended recovery meetings, and though I was initially very shy and anxious, I eventually participated, shared, and learned. I had never thought about sobriety or living a productive life, but the sparks that rekindled the flame of my life were struck those first few weeks at the Ranch. I experienced a new sensation of wanting to be alive, enjoying life and the things I was doing. I didn’t even want to think about going back to my prior existence. I had discovered the joie de vivre in this strange, new place. It was a novel sensation, wanting to be well.
I was supported throughout my journey by friends I had made at the Ranch, from the other residents and the amazing group of House Advisors who were present during my stay; to my clinical team who pushed me to be better; and my inspiring crew heads. I did things I never even imagined before. I became proficient at weaving – so much so that my crew head let me teach it to new residents and crew members. I learned how to garden and plant, grow, and harvest delicious herbs and vegetables that were used in our very own kitchen. I discovered the joy of the farmers market and managing the SLR stall. I participated in sugaring and learned how to make maple syrup. These might sound like random and not particularly useful skillsets, but what it did is teach me how to work. I became productive and contributed to the community. I learned the values of routine, hard work, communication, and compassion, and these have and will continue to serve me well the rest of my life.
