Spring 1997

I came in desperation; jail or death
was close at hand,

Came here begging that you fix this
lonely, empty, broken man.

Now I leave with quiet hope and
tools to fix myself and grow;

And I wonder that the process started
just a month ago.

The rage I brought here with me that
would keep you all away,

Was melted by the power of love
which was present every day.

All the pain and fear and hurt I
brought was all I seemed to know,

But it's been released and I feel peach
from thirty days ago.

I came here overwhelmed with life
from choices I had made,

And though I felt like running-with
your care I somehow stayed.

And my aura made of shame that I
carried to and fro,

Has somehow disappeared from
thirty days ago.

I don't understand the process-I no
longer care to try,

But something here had happened,
though I know not how or why.

Yes, I came in shattered pieces and I
leave here nearly whole,

And I'm grateful being different
from just thirty days ago.

-Michael C., Recovering
Compulsive Gambler

Reprinted with permission from the Project Turnabout Update newsletter.