Rick K. from Edmonton, Canada speaking at Parksville Rally in Parksville, British Columbia, Canada - June 14th 2008

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Rick shares a funny-raw arc from blackout drinking (early DUIs, a seizure, a marriage on the brink, dyslexia shame, and career chaos) to long-term sobriety (8/8/1985) built on service, sponsorship, and trusting God; he found purpose making coffee, stacking chairs, and “living like it might work,” then working the steps with a paint-salesman sponsor—especially Step 3 (decision with another person), Step 4–5 (honest inventory and full disclosure), Step 6–7 (trust God rather than white-knuckle self-change), Step 8–9 (amends—most powerfully to his still-drinking father), Step 11 (prayer/meditation to start the day sane), and Step 12 (“working with others” done with love, not lectures). He underscores AA as a participation sport—show up, help newcomers, and keep your spiritual condition ahead of the first drink—while highlighting grace in family life (an adoption returned with dignity, then the surprise birth of his son Luke) and gratitude for his parents, including healing old wounds. Key accomplishments and turning points include earning his Red Seal as a chef (even cooking for Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip), rebuilding his marriage, becoming a present father, and growing into a man who welcomes newcomers with a hand on the shoulder. The life-importance message: sobriety thrives on humility, honesty, and service—do the next right thing, trust God, and love people well.

Music: Deep by KaizanBlu