Helping My Daughter Saved Me, Too.

I would be honored to be a coach for ARCS.

ARCS helps end the stigma, ignorance, and “band-aid” approach to the human journey.  ARCS gets it right—and I know this is just the beginning of my work with them.

My husband and I had just sold our home in Florida and bought our dream motorhome. 

We were ready to visit family and finally travel the country.

Then, just one week before we hit the road, everything changed.

Our daughter was dropped off on our front lawn—drunk, stoned, barely conscious, with our two young grandchildren by her side.

She had no idea where she was, no idea what was happening.

The physical abuse she had endured, combined with her addiction to pills and alcohol, had finally reached its breaking point.

And suddenly, it was all in our hands, but we had no idea how to handle it. 

And as bad as the situation was then—somehow, it’s gotten even worse.

At first, I thought, "If I can’t save my daughter, maybe I can save somebody else’s daughter... or son, or father, or mother."

I’ve always been a leader. People have always come to me for advice, guidance, solutions.

But this time? This time, God called upon me, and I chose to follow the path He placed before me.

Walking into my first ARCS class, I was apprehensive.

I was never a drug addict, and I was never an alcoholic—but I had done my fair share of both, and I knew exactly where those two paths could lead.

I went in thinking I had it all together, but I was quickly humbled.

My ARCS Coach leads by example. She is authentic, down-to-earth, and true to herself—and that’s what makes the class so powerful.

It’s food for the soul.

I thought I was there to learn how to help my daughter, and I did. But the biggest lessons I learned, are about myself.

I finally understand how trauma in childhood shapes the entire human journey. I realized that maybe there isn’t some universal “meaning of life.” Maybe the meaning is what we create for ourselves.

Maybe God gives us life so that we have the opportunity to make it meaningful.

Since starting ARCS, my life and perspective have changed tenfold.

•  I no longer walk through life as a reactor.
•  I no longer feel like a volcano waiting to explode.
•  I am no longer lonely in my head or my heart.

Today, I am clear-minded, hopeful, and mentally strong.

•  I no longer feel helpless.
•  I no longer feel lost.

Instead, I feel ready.

•  Ready to pay it forward.
•  Ready to save lives.
•  Ready to make my journey meaningful.

As  continue in this program, I try to set an example for my daughter to follow. I want her to know that, if I can heal, she can too.

Thank you, ARCS. I look forward to a great future together.