Reflections III
By Al Roberts
Rehab Centers:
I appreciate being asked to reflect on
my experiences with the Valley Hope. There
are so many memories; I could write pages
but that likely would get tedious for me
and you, the reader. I was the Program
Director at the Cushing Valley Hope Rehab Center from it’s
opening in 1974 through 1998. My first
experience with Valley Hope came earlier,
however, on November 1, 1970. That is the day I was “dropped
off” at the front door of Norton Valley Hope and, coincidentally,
my “dry date.” Other than the steadfast love and support of my
family, my experience with Valley has been the most
meaningful experience of my life and changed my life
dramatically.
I believe that significant change must take place within an
individual for them to enjoy comfortable sobriety. I hope you
will identify with some of my reflections. Change started for me
during my treatment. I had been introduced to Alcoholics
Anonymous previously but I began to wake up to the reality of
the Step 1 and gained a rudimentary understanding of the
AA program. I was impressed by the Norton staff; for you
old-timers - -Doc L., Gordy P., Bill K., Chaplain Charles, Olga,
Val, etc. They were educated, knowledgeable, giving, but most
of all, genuine. Some early changes happened while in
treatment; I could learn, I could gain knowledge, maybe I could
even be genuine instead of “an actor on the stage of life”. I wanted
what they had.
After treatment, I quit my job, and with my wife, Susan and
children, Tyler and Alison, we moved to Emporia, KS to enroll
in a graduate program in counseling. I returned to the Norton Valley
Hope Rehab Center to intern and was subsequently hired as a counselor. We
were sent to Wichita to open an outpatient office and in 1974,
sent to Cushing to manage the Cushing Valley Hope Rehab Center. What busy
and exciting times. Valley Hope was expanding and Susan and
I were a part of that. I didn’t reflect much on personal changes
at that time because we were just too involved. As I look back,
I realize significant changes took place that supported
comfortable sobriety. Most importantly, I was able to relate to
other people without alcohol or any other mood altering drug.
I was given a unique opportunity to do this but I believe this is
a learned response that anyone in recovery can do and will
result in sobriety being more precious than the alternative. The
other ingredient- -helping other people. As you improve your
ability to relate you begin to empathize and reach out to others.
What is AA? A tried and true program of recovery and People
helping People. What is Valley Hope? An educational and
therapeutic environment and People helping People. I genuinely
wanted to reach out to others and be of help. This was a major
change from my years as an active alcoholic. This brought a
sense of worth, recreated self-esteem, if you will, that is so
obviously destroyed by chemical dependency. How fortunate
to be in a job that expected me to help other people. True, but
the amazing reality at the Cushing Valley Hope Rehab Center and, I believe, at all
other Valley Hope facilities is patients or clients helping each
other. The staff is providing structure, knowledge, support and
help but the change is happening with everyone there. To see
their love for each other, to witness the caring and to have a
small part in people’s life-style changes was amazing. Carrying
these changes, (to be genuine, to build relationships, to sincerely
care and to help others) beyond treatment and into everyday
life is the stuff of contented, long term sobriety.
Susan and I cherish the memory of the hundreds of staff
members at the Cushing Valley Hope Rehab Center and their amazing ability to
give without expectation of reward. We cherish the memory of
literally thousands of patients that we became acquainted with
and shared good times and bad, joys and sorrows, but mostly
love. I love Valley Hope because it remains an organization that
is genuine in it’s desire to help chemically dependent people
and family members find contented recovery.
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