Terra Trytko

Why did you want to become a Peer Recovery Coach?

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I’ve always liked helping people, making others feel good makes me feel good and helps give me purpose. Becoming a Recovery Coach became a passion because of the people that helped me when I had given up. I wanted to be ‘that person’ for somebody else. I wanted to be the one that showed compassion and care when someone was in their darkest hour and had given up on everything, including themselves. I wanted to be the one that helped them see their worth. I wanted to be able to walk beside someone in their time of need and help them get through what sometimes seems like the impossible. I want to be able to show someone that although its hard recovery is possible, and you can come back from anything.

 

What does Recovery look like to you?

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 Recovery for me is a new way of life. I had to learn how to live and rebuild everything, which is still a work in progress lol. I surround myself with people who help me become a better version of myself and support my new way of life. I am thankful and grateful to Jesus for blessing me with a second chance and I walk the path that he places before me.

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What is your favorite part about being a Peer Recovery Coach?

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 My favorite part about being a peer support is seeing people succeed. I love celebrating victories with them and watching their confidence build as they become stronger in their recovery. I also love being able to ‘spread the word’ about recovery and the services LITE has to offer. Being able to let people know that they are not alone in this and that we’re here to walk with them every step of the way is an amazing gift.

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What do you like to do for fun?

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 Some of my favorite things to do include spending time with my son. We love playing games, video and board games, as well as spending time outside (which usually results in a Nerf gun battle), reading, drawing and playing Legos. I love gardening, digging in the dirt is my happy place, I love making soaps/lotions and doing the research that goes along with it, coloring, reading, thrift shopping and garage sales and making jewelry.

 

What does it mean to you to work at LITE?

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 Working at LITE truly means the world to me, it is quite literally me coming full circle. I met Tammy during my stay at KCJ. She helped me get my application to Serenity House where I went after my release. After Serenity House, I went home to South Bend. It took a while to get my driving privileges back but once I did I started coming to the Café and reached out to Tammy to find out how to become a Recovery Coach. I knew this was what I wanted to do but never dreamed I’d be a part of the LITE family. I am honored to be able to work for this Amazing organization and truly Blessed to have Tammy and all the LITE family in my life.   

 

How do you use your story to help those with who you work with?

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I try to use my story to hopefully inspire others. I was in the thralls of addiction for a very long time, and I try to show people that change is possible. That you can come back no matter how far down you may have fallen. That you can make a fresh start and rebuild your life. I try to show that all the hard work the blood, sweat and tears are worth it. That you can be happy, you can be grateful, you can be thankful, you can be excited about life.

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I want you to imagine that you are the great-great-grandmother/grandfather that you dream of being, and you’ve created everything you wanted to create in your life. You’ve accomplished all the dreams, all the big goals that you’ve set. You’ve made them happen. You’ve got the family of your dreams. You’ve done it all. But you have to take everything with you. You have to take everything with you so that no one has access to your information anymore…all your social media content, journals, etc, it’s all gone. But you get to write down the three things you know to be true about your life, the lessons you would leave behind. All people would have to remember you by are these lessons.

 

What would you say are your three truths? From the top of your head… What lessons would you want people to take away from your life?

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 I would say my 3 truths or life lessons I would want to leave behind would be for one, you can never start to heal if you continue going back to what hurt you. Second, I would say is Sorry is just a useless word unless your actions mirror the apology. Third one would be the first step is always the hardest but when you reach the paths end, you’ll be glad you took it.