GOOD AND BAD INFLUENCES

Jessy King becomes positive force for Lifeline women

The people in our lives matter.

That may seem obvious when you consider your small circle of friends and family. But it’s a huge understatement when you consider that each person influences about 10,000 people in a lifetime, according to motivational speaker and author Todd Stottlemyre.

10,000 influences. Good and bad.

For Jessy King, there were plenty of negative influences – high school drinking buddies, an addicted parent, abusive boyfriends. Thankfully, there were plenty of memorable positive influences, too:

• Her high school principal that offered her a way to get her diploma, when that was the last thing on her mind.

• Bosses that gave her second and third chances.

• Her godmother who kept her children when she knew she couldn’t.

And then came Lifeline.

“I have never felt the love the way we love here at Lifeline. I have finally found my people.”

Jessy, 36, of Paducah, graduated from Lifeline in 2019 and began volunteering as a facilitator in the anger management class in 2020. She is now the program supervisor.

She finds her work rewarding and effective because she has walked the same path as her clients.

Jessy spent 17 years in addiction following childhood sexual molestation. After her parents divorced, she struggled with depression in middle school and, by 15, she started smoking weed, drinking and taking pills.

By 21, she had two children and was a “functioning alcoholic,” holding down a job with the help of alcohol and any other substance “I could get my hands on,” she said.

In 2014, she lost her job and got into a new troubled relationship.

“That’s when I met the devil,” she said, “and the devil was meth. That’s when I lost myself. The darkness overshadowed me.”

She’s thankful she ended up at Lifeline.

“At Lifeline, it’s all or nothing. I’d tried everything and had nothing else to lose. I saw quickly they could relate to me,” she said. “I realized I’m not a horrible person for the horrible things I have done.”

She benefited from the 12-week Celebrate Recovery program, the financial training and counseling. The job training changed her life. “Lifeline taught me how to put an actual resume together, and, if I hadn’t had it in hand, I wouldn’t have gotten my first job (after graduating).”

Jessy maintains her sobriety by continuing to work the 12-step program, staying in contact with her sponsor, attending meetings and being active at her church. And working at Lifeline.

“The Lord knew I needed to be right here on the front row of this to stay on the right path, to see His miracles every day,” she said. “I’m living my best life.”