Peace Family! Welcome back to another episode of The Foundation Podcast! This episode features a conversation with owner of Basketball Spotlight LLC, Mike Melton as he shares an incredible story of how he built a Foundation in sobriety by conquering an alcohol addiction that nearly claimed his life. Melton is a product of Trenton, NJ and a graduate of Kean University who began an early career teaching shortly after graduation. Melton begins the interview by explaining how he was introduced to alcohol during his freshman year of college and how his alcoholism began to progress in his early years of teaching unbeknownst to him. Melton even shares a story about flipping his vehicle in a car crash and how he took it as a sign that he was invincible and should keep drinking. 

Melton then shifts the conversation referring to the discovery of his wife's murder as "the day my life turned upside down". Melton's story is also incredibly compounded not only by the fact that his wife was murdered and he was the one who found her, but to add insult to injury he was named as the number one suspect! During years of suspicion not only from the police and prosecutors but from family, friends, employers, and just about anyone else who came in contact with Melton around this time. Melton was even forced to resign from his teaching position as the school diagnosed him with PTSD which precluded him from continuing his educational career. These circumstances combined to exacerbate Melton's alcoholism as he leaned on the bottle for a crutch, understandably so in a very tough time in life.

The first part of the two part episode ends with Melton sharing a story of how his drinking got so progressive after the trial for his wife, that on one occasion Melton was so inebriated, he thought his friend was an actual demon. Melton even discusses the complications of rehab as he shares a story about how upon leaving rehab to go to a strip club and have a drink the same night. This is when Melton drops to his knees and begs God to help him find a way out, and vows to change his life. On part two of this episode, we learn how Melton navigated the journey back to sobriety.

Melton was incredibly open and candid about his experience which we thank him immensely for. We all may need a helping hand at some point without judgement or sympathy, but sometimes empathy can do the trick. See if there is any way you may be able to relate to Melton's story of if there are some building blocks you can take to help you along your journey as well. As always, Keep Building Family!