AUGUST 2018 PARKER COUNTY TODAY
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It had just got the best of me . I ’ ve always had a good heart for the Lord and been in church my whole life . That being said , the devil found a foothold in my life and I let him in and take hold of it . I was more than happy to let him ,” Rhodes explained .
Rhodes said that he was offered help by everyone around him who knew what was going on , but he didn ’ t want to take it because he never saw himself as having a problem , until the police got involved .
“ All the signs were there to everyone but me , because I was functioning . When I wasn ’ t drinking , people thought that something was wrong . I was quiet , standoffish , not as bubbly and happy . Ultimately , I made some poor choices that led to a DWI , and we [ Northside ] had to part ways and I took another job . It was time for me to get some things right . I did some voluntary outpatient stuff , and even at that point I didn ’ t want to quit drinking . I wanted people to stay off my back , and the easiest way to do that was to be dropped off at the hospital and do my group sessions . I did learn some things from them , but at the end of the day I was content to drink when I wanted . I was content to live enough of a lie that I would drink and not let people see me drink .”
Life continued for Rhodes , but while attempting to get sober , he received a second DWI within months of the first one . This was the wake-up call that he needed to stop drinking and get control of his life .
He found an outlet in fitness and has never looked back .
“ I found myself in a really bad tight spot and I quit drinking after that . I didn ’ t want to , but I knew that I had to . At night , my prayers would be ‘ God , please take this disease from me .’ I got a local gym membership to keep me busy , and got more serious and gave up drinking all together . I finally understood the reason to do it . It wasn ’ t for my friends and family . I finally did it for myself . I ’ ve been clean and sober ever since , after I made the big decision . This is the best I ’ ve ever felt in my life . I feel great and ended up with Drake ’ s as kitchen manager and general manager .”