Katie Pfeil
When I came to Charlotte last June, I did not get sober with any intentions of staying sober. I wasn’t sure if sobriety was what I wanted or if I believed that I was worthy of a life different from how I was living. I was not sold on the prospect of moving into sober living after completing 45 days inpatient treatment. I put my wants aside and trusted the people that were in place to help me and I went for it.
At first, I moved into a sober living home with not much accountability, I lost gratitude very quickly, took my will back, and after two weeks- I relapsed.
The next day I picked up a white chip. I got a sponsor, started to get really honest, began to follow directions, made a connection with God, and I started to work the 12 steps.
Three days later I moved into the women’s home at Anchor of Hope Sober Living, which had just opened. I was flooded with gratitude and willingness. Within a few months I was asked to be the house manager. Living and working more closely with women in recovery sparked something inside of my heart. A purpose and usefulness that a year later would be put to unimaginable use. The connections in this home are undeniable. The friendships, all the support, celebrating the the good and the recovery milestones, uplifting and showing up for each other during the bad and really hard times. Rallying around one another and having sisters in sobriety. Seeing God move and work in and through these amazing ladies and our lives are many gifts that sobriety has bestowed upon me personally. I found peace. The ladies in this home have taught me how to live in sobriety and allow God to work in my life. Consideration, accountability, honesty, working through conflict in healthy ways, acknowledging others, fairness and equality, dependability, willingness to help each other, and a genuine love and care that I’m glad I can say I know about today.
I started vigorously working on myself with my sponsor. I didn’t know the weight until I felt the freedom. For me, the real challenge of growth - mentally, emotionally, and spiritually, comes when you get knocked down. Adversity introduces us to ourselves- how you handle it is where growth and FAITH take place. The peace that poured into me when I walked into this Anchor of Hope Sober Living house was a feeling of confidence just big enough for me to want to try and do things differently. Not Katie’s way this time. I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.
Now over a year later, I am still the live in house manager at Anchor of Hope Women’s. Every milestone in sobriety, I have collected chips from Josh. My brokenness has served me well. My purpose and sanity have been restored in areas I wasn’t willing to believe that I deserved before. There are some things in our lives that need to be broken: pride, self-will, and stubbornness. When we feel our brokenness, God compensates: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15).
I’ve dealt with some excruciating pains of life on life’s terms in sobriety. Some things don’t work out and we don’t get them back, but the indescribable camaraderie, the genuine care, the sisterhood and brotherhood in these homes have taught me that I have a family. I do belong, I matter, and I never have to do or go through it alone or live like that again.
During the down moments in life that’s where the growth takes place. That’s where the work is. “The Lord is close to the broken-hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18)
Now, I clean house, trust God, and help others. Things in my life that were meant for evil, God uses for good. (Genesis 50:20)
For me, faith is the confidence in HOPE. I found God in Alcoholics Anonymous and because of that, I’ve been able to heal and grow with God into the woman he intended for me to be. I decided that I wanted to live a little bit more than I wanted to die 51;49.
I’ve been able find myself and heal for the first time ever at my Anchor of Hope Sober Living house.
Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). “Jesus comes not for the super-spiritual but for the wobbly and the weak-kneed who know they don’t have it all together, and who are not too proud to accept the handout of “amazing grace”.
God’s amazing grace is all over this.
I celebrated one year of sobriety on August 16, 2021. I picked up my one year medallion from Josh Bone just as I had picked up that white chip from him one year before. On August 25th, I accepted a staff position working with Josh, at Anchor of Hope Sober Living, as the Women’s Program Director and Resident Services.
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Katie Pfeil- AOH 5, House Manager
Women’s Program Director & Guest Services
Sober Since August 16th, 2020