Several of us who work for TLC honored the occasion by joining him for dinner at a Mexican restaurant.
As we drove home I reflected that people like him are one reason we never give up on someone who's struggling to change.
Before he finally figured out how to stay sober 11 years ago he had bounced in and out of TLC ten times. He had a habit of coming in for a while, getting his life together, then finding a reason to relapse. Later, after suffering in jail or on the streets for a while, he'd convince us to take him in again.
But once he made the commitment to stay clean 11 years ago he never looked back.
He began working for TLC and kept getting better and better jobs. Until today, he works as director of operations - the number three job in the company.
In the past 11 years he's gotten married and has become a father once again. He lives in a nice suburban home, has a bank account, drives decent cars, and pays taxes. In other words he's living the life of a responsible citizen.
One true mark of his success is that most of his family has come to Arizona to join him. Those who once knew him as someone who was always in trouble because of his lifestyle, now look to him as the responsible member of the family - someone who can give them guidance and help when they need it.
