Jeff's Story: From Alabama to Awakening: A Life Changed by Moments

Growing up in Alabama, things are just different here. I think most people across the country would agree with that. Some of it’s good… some of it’s not. But it’s home.

As a kid, life was simple. I played three sports a year starting at five years old. We stayed outside—ball fields, dirt roads, wherever the game was. When we weren’t playing, we were watching NASCAR or heading to the lake or river every chance we got. That was life. That was normal.

The first pain pill

But I can remember the exact moment things started to shift. I was 14 years old, playing in the Dixie Boys World Series when I took my first pain pill. And I’m telling you—it was different. At that moment, I felt like I could change the world… like I had found something that made everything better. And from that point on, it didn’t take long for “a few pills” to turn into something much bigger.

Before I knew it, I wasn’t chasing a feeling—I was chasing survival. Every day became a hustle to make sure I had what I needed. The OxyContin epidemic that swept across this country hit Alabama hard… and I became a product of it.

Overdoses. Arrests. Long stints of incarceration. That life will take everything from you if you let it.

In August of 1999, I was arrested on a large drug sales charge and ended up serving significant time. And then in April of 2002, while I was still dealing with my own battles, I got news that changed my life forever—my younger brother, who had just turned 18, took his own life. He had been fighting mental health challenges and addiction for years.

That moment… it broke something in me. It sent me into a whirlwind that I honestly didn’t think I’d ever come back from. I tried getting sober multiple times, but nothing stuck. I was searching—but I didn’t even know what I was searching for.

October 3rd, 2011

Until October 3rd, 2011. That’s the day everything changed.

I had what I can only describe as a Spiritual Awakening. Some people might call it an “aha moment.” The Bible talks about it as “the eyes of your understanding being enlightened.” Call it whatever you want—I don’t need everyone to understand it. All I know is… it was real to me. And it marked me for life.

Here’s what I’ve come to believe: in life, we don’t remember days, weeks, months, or even years—we remember moments. Specific moments that shape everything.

And from that day forward, I made a decision…

I want to be a MOMENT maker in people’s lives.

Fifteen years in the recovery movement

For the past 15 years, I’ve been deeply involved in the recovery movement here in Alabama. In 2017, I became a Certified Recovery Support Specialist through the Alabama Department of Mental Health. I’ve worked in clinical programs, long-term faith-based programs—and honestly, at the core, they’re all the same.It’s about helping people become the best version of themselves. That’s it. That’s the mission.

Today, I’m honored to be part of You Are Accountable. Before I ever applied, I did my homework—and what I found was something special. This company truly is a diamond in the rough.

The culture? Top notch.The heart behind it? Even better.

To my wife

And before I close, I’ve got to say this…

To my beautiful wife—thank you. You believed in me before I even knew what hope was. You stood strong when the storms felt unbearable. You’ve been my rock through it all, and I don’t take that for granted. I’m beyond grateful for you and your support.

I’ll leave you with this:

Discipline without love only leads to rebellion

And at the end of the day…

LOVE WINS.