My Life and How I Have Been Changed By 'Mr. Happy' As a child, I was without a mom at the age of five. I was one child out of six. I was born on a doorstep and as I grew up, I wanted to be in the spotlight. I took a journey to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I was not ready to cope with all the things that would be coming into my life. I was so shattered; I was so afraid; I was so alone. And so I took the road that I thought would take away my fear, my pain and my shame. That road was an addiction to alcohol. Alcohol has caused me a lot of pain, hurt, distress, confusion and loss. I had lost my dignity, my pride and the person God had created me to be. I felt so alone, and I thought the alcohol-which I thought was my friend-would allow me not to feel so alone. Because I was a designer-hairstylist, I was into a world of fantasy and what I thought was happiness. But the "bottle" took away my success as a designer and stylist. I chose to go into a treatment facility called "Affirmation Place." I was in the salon and met a young lady-a judge named Pam Alexander. I asked her for help because I was tired of feeling so alone and ashamed. I told her that I didn't have any type of insurance, but she said, "I can help you to get a Rule 25." A Rule 25 allows you to get treatment even without insurance, because it is funded by the government. I went to "Affirmation Place" and I was doing very well, but I was still living in the downtown area of Minneapolis with people who said they were my friends. But they knew the weaker side of me, and I got led back into the things that I used to do. I knew that I was an alcoholic, but they said, "Oh no&ldots;you're just having a good time, just being yourself. You're fine!" But deep down inside I knew that there was something that was really hurting me, and I could not find it because I had so many other chemicals in my system. My mind had become lost and I did not care any more. One day I met this man by the name of Don Curran and God brought Don to me to help, to care and to understand me and to share. He led me into righteousness, to understand that you are somebody, if you believe. Each and every day I thank God for bringing him into my life to guide me and to help me and to allow me to believe in myself. But Don was not living in Minneapolis; he was living in Escanaba, Michigan. He was not able to be there to give me that push and that boost each and every day. Each and every person needs that help at some time. I got weak again because the friend I had who was true and dear to me and that I trusted was no longer there in Minneapolis. I was all alone again. When Don came back to Minneapolis, he saw how I was crying for help. He helped me to move to Plymouth, Minnesota and I started working at an Amoco gas station. I became more happy and free. Don saw how I had grown, and he went back to Escanaba, which I understood he had to do, because his job was there. I would talk with him on the phone. But I started feeling all alone again; the addict was coming back into my life. In fact, he had never left. I was thinking that I could do it alone, but there is no way you can do it alone when you are an addict. Even though my home in Plymouth was big, beautiful and luxurious, I was unhappy. I was alone, afraid and ashamed of who I was. I did look forward to going to work each day, because I love people and work would keep people in my life. I could make someone smile and it would keep me away from the bottle. I met a young lady by the name of Kris. She was an angel that came into my life; she was one in a million. Even in the darkest hours, she showed me the light of her beautiful eyes. Most of all, she walks into a room with such confidence. This was the first time I would meet this young lady. I had been going through a lot over these past years, and just by her being there it made a change in me. Kris was the one with so much honor and she knew with her wisdom that she would be respected. Kris saw all the things I was going through and she took charge, like my mother. She helped me. I had gotten in more trouble. I got another DWI. But she didn't feel ashamed or give up on me; she was there constantly in my life. She said, "Robert, you're going into a treatment center." I said, "Okay." I was just crying and crying for my mom; I wish I had her. Kris said, "Don't worry. Get some rest, and we will take care of you tomorrow." I said, "Okay." In the meanwhile, the addict was still there. I started drinking and got into my car and took a ride. I knew deep down that I should have stayed home, but I allowed the addict to take charge of me. That's when I got into trouble, and the police stopped me and took me to jail. I called Kris and she already knew. She said, "I felt it. I decided to come and get your keys, but I could only do so much." They had decided to throw me into jail for 500 days, but Kris said, "No, he doesn't need jail. He needs help; he needs treatment. I know him and talk with him, and I love him; he's like my little brother. He just needs someone to listen." The judge listened to her. I was so much in denial. I was confused, shattered and ashamed. I was ashamed about being dyslexic and about allowing the addict to take control of me. When I went to see the judge, they dropped the 500 days and put me into treatment. I was in treatment for 31 days, and it has changed my life with the help of Kris and Don, and most of all God. I was not ashamed of who I was, because there were many more like me. I was not the only one that had that disease, and I allowed the treatment to set me free. Kris came to visit me every Sunday. I stayed in the treatment; I never gave up. I locked away a lot of my so-called friends. Kris told me, "You don't need them." I started seeing the light of who I am, and it was a beautiful part of the light that God created in me. As we talked in our reflection groups in the treatment facility, I decided to go to Escanaba and Bay College to major in social work. And I'm not ashamed any more. If people don't like me for who I am, frankly I don't give a damn! I love them. I thank God for bringing Kris and Don into my life to believe in me and to help me to know that I am somebody, and to help me to make this change. I really want to thank them for bringing about a change in me. One very positive thing that did happen to me while I was at the Amoco station was the creation of a character called "Mr. Happiness." I just call him Mr. Happy. It all started when I called in to the night D.J. at KDWB to try to win some tickets. J.J. Kincaid and I really hit it off and it was he who named "Mr. Happiness." Not long after, I began to talk on the air with the afternoon D.J., Tone E. Fly, and I even was on the "Dave Ryan in the Morning Show." All through my rehab and move to Escanaba, I am still doing "Mr. Happy" for KDWB. It is very enjoyable! My Attitude Toward Education & How It Has Changed By Robert L. Cook My attitude toward education is based on my belief in God. I believe in His grace and that Jesus hung on the cross and died for my sins. I also believe God gave me wisdom and the ability to succeed, and it is up to me to use it. Education is a challenge and a trial, and I believe Jesus gives me the power to make it through all my trials. God says to me: "Use the wisdom I give you to be your best!" Education is more important to me now than when I was younger. I can see the benefits of education more clearly, because I now have clear goals for my life. I believe most people place more value on education as they become more mature. Education is important to me in many ways. It helps me to build a career, and it makes me a more interesting person. I love people, and I have made many interesting friendships here at Bay College. I believe a person should always be open to new skills and new experiences. Most importantly, education helps me make use of the mind and talents God has given to me.
My Life and How I Have Been Changed
By
'Mr. Happy'
As a child, I was without a mom at the age of five. I was one child out of six. I was born on a doorstep and as I grew up, I wanted to be in the spotlight.
I took a journey to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and I was not ready to cope with all the things that would be coming into my life. I was so shattered; I was so afraid; I was so alone. And so I took the road that I thought would take away my fear, my pain and my shame. That road was an addiction to alcohol.
Alcohol has caused me a lot of pain, hurt, distress, confusion and loss. I had lost my dignity, my pride and the person God had created me to be. I felt so alone, and I thought the alcohol-which I thought was my friend-would allow me not to feel so alone.
Because I was a designer-hairstylist, I was into a world of fantasy and what I thought was happiness. But the "bottle" took away my success as a designer and stylist.
I chose to go into a treatment facility called "Affirmation Place." I was in the salon and met a young lady-a judge named Pam Alexander. I asked her for help because I was tired of feeling so alone and ashamed. I told her that I didn't have any type of insurance, but she said, "I can help you to get a Rule 25." A Rule 25 allows you to get treatment even without insurance, because it is funded by the government.
I went to "Affirmation Place" and I was doing very well, but I was still living in the downtown area of Minneapolis with people who said they were my friends. But they knew the weaker side of me, and I got led back into the things that I used to do. I knew that I was an alcoholic, but they said, "Oh no&ldots;you're just having a good time, just being yourself. You're fine!" But deep down inside I knew that there was something that was really hurting me, and I could not find it because I had so many other chemicals in my system. My mind had become lost and I did not care any more.
One day I met this man by the name of Don Curran and God brought Don to me to help, to care and to understand me and to share. He led me into righteousness, to understand that you are somebody, if you believe. Each and every day I thank God for bringing him into my life to guide me and to help me and to allow me to believe in myself.
But Don was not living in Minneapolis; he was living in Escanaba, Michigan. He was not able to be there to give me that push and that boost each and every day. Each and every person needs that help at some time. I got weak again because the friend I had who was true and dear to me and that I trusted was no longer there in Minneapolis. I was all alone again.
When Don came back to Minneapolis, he saw how I was crying for help. He helped me to move to Plymouth, Minnesota and I started working at an Amoco gas station. I became more happy and free. Don saw how I had grown, and he went back to Escanaba, which I understood he had to do, because his job was there. I would talk with him on the phone. But I started feeling all alone again; the addict was coming back into my life. In fact, he had never left.
I was thinking that I could do it alone, but there is no way you can do it alone when you are an addict. Even though my home in Plymouth was big, beautiful and luxurious, I was unhappy. I was alone, afraid and ashamed of who I was.
I did look forward to going to work each day, because I love people and work would keep people in my life. I could make someone smile and it would keep me away from the bottle.
I met a young lady by the name of Kris. She was an angel that came into my life; she was one in a million. Even in the darkest hours, she showed me the light of her beautiful eyes. Most of all, she walks into a room with such confidence. This was the first time I would meet this young lady. I had been going through a lot over these past years, and just by her being there it made a change in me. Kris was the one with so much honor and she knew with her wisdom that she would be respected.
Kris saw all the things I was going through and she took charge, like my mother. She helped me. I had gotten in more trouble. I got another DWI. But she didn't feel ashamed or give up on me; she was there constantly in my life.
She said, "Robert, you're going into a treatment center." I said, "Okay." I was just crying and crying for my mom; I wish I had her. Kris said, "Don't worry. Get some rest, and we will take care of you tomorrow." I said, "Okay."
In the meanwhile, the addict was still there. I started drinking and got into my car and took a ride. I knew deep down that I should have stayed home, but I allowed the addict to take charge of me. That's when I got into trouble, and the police stopped me and took me to jail. I called Kris and she already knew. She said, "I felt it. I decided to come and get your keys, but I could only do so much."
They had decided to throw me into jail for 500 days, but Kris said, "No, he doesn't need jail. He needs help; he needs treatment. I know him and talk with him, and I love him; he's like my little brother. He just needs someone to listen." The judge listened to her. I was so much in denial. I was confused, shattered and ashamed. I was ashamed about being dyslexic and about allowing the addict to take control of me.
When I went to see the judge, they dropped the 500 days and put me into treatment. I was in treatment for 31 days, and it has changed my life with the help of Kris and Don, and most of all God. I was not ashamed of who I was, because there were many more like me. I was not the only one that had that disease, and I allowed the treatment to set me free.
Kris came to visit me every Sunday. I stayed in the treatment; I never gave up. I locked away a lot of my so-called friends. Kris told me, "You don't need them." I started seeing the light of who I am, and it was a beautiful part of the light that God created in me.
As we talked in our reflection groups in the treatment facility, I decided to go to Escanaba and Bay College to major in social work. And I'm not ashamed any more. If people don't like me for who I am, frankly I don't give a damn! I love them.
I thank God for bringing Kris and Don into my life to believe in me and to help me to know that I am somebody, and to help me to make this change. I really want to thank them for bringing about a change in me.
One very positive thing that did happen to me while I was at the Amoco station was the creation of a character called "Mr. Happiness." I just call him Mr. Happy. It all started when I called in to the night D.J. at KDWB to try to win some tickets. J.J. Kincaid and I really hit it off and it was he who named "Mr. Happiness." Not long after, I began to talk on the air with the afternoon D.J., Tone E. Fly, and I even was on the "Dave Ryan in the Morning Show." All through my rehab and move to Escanaba, I am still doing "Mr. Happy" for KDWB. It is very enjoyable!
My Attitude Toward Education & How It Has Changed
Robert L. Cook
My attitude toward education is based on my belief in God. I believe in His grace and that Jesus hung on the cross and died for my sins. I also believe God gave me wisdom and the ability to succeed, and it is up to me to use it. Education is a challenge and a trial, and I believe Jesus gives me the power to make it through all my trials. God says to me: "Use the wisdom I give you to be your best!"
Education is more important to me now than when I was younger. I can see the benefits of education more clearly, because I now have clear goals for my life. I believe most people place more value on education as they become more mature.
Education is important to me in many ways. It helps me to build a career, and it makes me a more interesting person. I love people, and I have made many interesting friendships here at Bay College. I believe a person should always be open to new skills and new experiences. Most importantly, education helps me make use of the mind and talents God has given to me.
