Ups, downs and moving forward: Jack’s story
Published Nov. 13, 2025
Being there for others, especially through meaningful conversations, has always been important to Jack McCall. Even so, he’s a private person who’s reluctant to ask for help.
“To this day, I can count people that I would consider friends who I could confide in other than my wife,“ he said. “I limit when I ask people for help.”
Acceptance
Jack has been through a lot in his life. He was already making his living selling weed by the time he dropped out of high school. He lived “the hippie scene” for a few years and later became an executive of a large construction company. He had four kids, burnt out from his job and survived a suicide attempt. He lived on the streets for more than six months.
“When things went off track with my life about 22 years ago, I had a difficult time accepting myself. I was ramping up with these failures. I made a list of them; the list was very long,” he said. “I decided to get rid of that list and start listing positive things. I don’t want to live there.”
Throughout those rollercoaster years, alcohol and other drugs were part of Jack’s life, to different degrees.
Authenticity
Jack was charged with a DUI about a year ago in Cripple Creek, CO. He sought services from Aspen Mine Center, a one-stop resource nonprofit, as a way to check the probation box.
“I got a list of things, including one-on-one time with this gentleman named Erik,” he said. “I could just tell by talking to him, this might be a good thing.”
Teller County is a rural area with limited care resources. Erik, a Teller County resident, visits local agencies in Cripple Creek and Woodland Park each week. He meets with individuals like Jack to help them get well from addiction, in whatever ways are most important to them.
Jack has found that recovery in a small community like Teller County comes with its own challenges.
“No matter where you go, everybody knows everybody,” he said. “Erik helped me navigate that, which helped me move forward.”
As someone who values authenticity, Jack appreciates his conversations with Erik. He’s there to listen without trying to be the “fix-it guy.” He holds Jack accountable while still being supportive.
“He’s encouraging, and I believe what he’s saying is true encouragement,” Jack said. “I know that he does really want to help people, so that makes it easy to talk to him.”
Jack has learned a lot throughout his ups and downs. Even when he stumbles, when he falls back into his past, he does his best to journal and think spiritually.
He also leans on Erik.
“I can go to him and say, ‘Ok, here are the things I’m concerned about. Here’s what could happen, the what ifs, the maybes.’ I can get everything off my chest and not bring it home and burden my wife,” he said. “He always listens and smiles. Coaching is one of the cogs that have kept the whole engine fluid, regardless of the ups and downs.”
Hope
Recently, Jack reached a point in his court and treatment requirements that left him feeling tired. He wondered what else he could get from the process.
“I went through this time of what I call a ‘mid DUI crisis,’” he said. “Everything was getting old; I felt like I’d gathered the fruit from it.”
Jack had help from his wife and Erik to focus on the good things, especially his treatment group.
“I got back in the swing of things,” he said. “Erik told me, ‘You know these people. You know what’s going on in their lives.’ I realized it’s not about recovery as much as it is about knowing people. I’m really glad I stuck with it.”
Jack reminds himself to learn along the way and embrace the growth that comes with difficult times.
“You can have one or two years of the lowest point in your life or the most fearful time in your life, and at the end of those one or two years, you can find you got nothing out of it. That’s two years of wasted time,” he said. “When I look back, I can say that was worth it even though it was painful and stupid. I wouldn’t change anything. I wouldn’t change the impact that came out of it.”
Jack has prayed for change, and it’s happening. Even though the last year has been intense, it’s also been beautiful.
“I tell people, ‘You can gripe and moan about it, or you can grab everything along the way. You can grow from it. There’s always something that can lift you up and move you forward,’” he said. “I really hope whoever reads this understands that hope can change you. Your life can change you as long as you want it and desire it.”