What does it mean to bring your whole self to work? For Ryan Mills, Workforce Coordinator at CARITAS Works, it means recognizing that recovery isn’t something to hide, but rather a source of connection and purpose that extends far beyond the workplace.
In this letter, Ryan shares his personal perspective on recovery, employment, and the value of showing up authentically – not just for yourself, but for the people who may reach out along the way.
Read Ryan’s reflection on the importance of lived experience and hiring our neighbors in recovery:
I remember being in CARITAS Works during the ‘mock interview’ portion of the curriculum and asking each of our volunteers, “Is it appropriate to disclose to these potential employers that I am in recovery?” At the time, I was still very early in my sobriety (7 months… but who’s counting!?) and was very uncertain about a plethora of things. However, this concern was at the top of the list. I received a wide variety of responses, ranging from “absolutely not” to “your story of hope is inspirational, and your experience is your greatest asset today.” As an overthinker, riddled with anxiety and overwhelmed by the fear of the unknown, I walked away still very undecided about whether I would feel comfortable speaking about my recovery during a formal interview or after gaining employment.
Fast forward to this past Tuesday. I was at my desk when I received a phone call from my boss at the restaurant where I work part-time on the weekends. He told me that one of his employees had a seizure while on the job and later disclosed to him that he was having issues with his drinking – a common issue I can personally speak towards after years in hospitality management. He asked me if he could give the employee my number, so I might be able to share my experience and relate to him in how I found the solution to my problem today. The employee reached out the following day and we spoke for roughly 45 minutes, relating over what he was currently going through. I offered some of the resources that I still utilize on a daily basis, along with some simple suggestions that were once offered to me. For a once helpless, hopeless alcoholic to be on the other end of that phone call today is an incredible blessing I don’t at all take for granted.
That, to me, sums up entirely not just why hiring someone in recovery matters, but also why I don’t shy from disclosing to my employers that I am a person in long term recovery. The reality is that everyone knows someone who is suffering from this disease, whether it’s a friend, a neighbor, a family member, a fellow employee, etc. I show up each and every day on time (which was never the case for me prior to working a recovery program), bringing with me a positive attitude and a way of thinking that gets me immediately into the solution; but it doesn’t end there. I now also lend myself as a solution outside of the time when I am clocked in from 8am – 4pm Saturdays and Sundays.
It is my responsibility as a recovered alcoholic to be there when the next sick and suffering individual feels just as hopeless as I once did, to lend them that same solution that was offered to me. What better position to be able to do so than with the people who I work alongside daily, and who know me as well as they do? Maybe this individual takes the suggestions I offered him, maybe he still has some research that he needs to do, only time will tell. The fact is, I have solidified myself as being a point of contact at my job for someone else who is struggling, and simultaneously answered the very question that once caused me all that anxiety.
My name is Ryan Mills, I am gainfully employed today both full-time and part-time, and I am an Alcoholic.
Ryan’s story shows how recovery can create opportunities not just for ourselves, but for the people surrounding us. Through CARITAS Works, our neighbors build the skills and confidence to pursue meaningful employment and brighter futures.
Help make more possible. Learn more about CARITAS Works or give a gift to CARITAS to support our neighbors on their path forward.