Redefining Recovery | Tom Gill | TEDxRutgers

They say recovery is a gradual process; change doesn’t happen overnight. In his moving talk, Tom shares the tumultuous journey of a recovering addict and how small steps to reach out made a big impact in his perspective of the world.
Tom Gill spent many years of his life in despair, trapped by the throes of addiction to substances. Through a series of revelations and willingness to accept outside help to overcome his struggles, Tom was able to overcome these impediments and is now on the road to success. He attributes his change to outside help and escaping his own thoughts by reaching a hand out to those struggling. He hopes to offer others a way out by sharing his experience. Still a thrill seeker, Tom has now channeled his energies into positive things. What was once the insatiable drive to become intoxicated has morphed into a love of extreme sports. From the very first time he leaped off of a 40 foot cliff into the sea below, his passion is only limited by the need to exercise proper caution. He is still an avid cliff diver and now a skydiver-in-training, and plans to become a certified wingsuit flyer in due time.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

Пікірлер: 27

  • @malkalazar1801
    @malkalazar1801Ай бұрын

    Karma translates as 'action'. You take an action you change your karma. You must be so wise to do it in such a simple way. You are really amazing and inspiring. Thank you❤

  • @deborajh0917
    @deborajh0917 Жыл бұрын

    Yaaayyyy!! Congrats to you!! Lots of Love&Hugs 💜🤗🤗

  • @MissUnderstoodasAlways
    @MissUnderstoodasAlways3 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this

  • @FlylandRecoveryNetwork
    @FlylandRecoveryNetwork6 ай бұрын

    Thank you.

  • @SoberDogs
    @SoberDogs3 жыл бұрын

    Tom wow brotha. Wow. Great story. Very powerful

  • @anthonymorris6473
    @anthonymorris64738 жыл бұрын

    I will save this video. For myself and for others I know. Thank you.

  • @SoberDogs

    @SoberDogs

    3 жыл бұрын

    Same here Anthony.

  • @particles343
    @particles3434 жыл бұрын

    Thank you young man for shining a little light on me in this cunning and baffling and powerful disease.

  • @SoberDogs

    @SoberDogs

    3 жыл бұрын

    You must be a 12 steeper lol. Cunning baffling powerful. So so tru

  • @annalisette5897
    @annalisette58976 жыл бұрын

    The work of journalist Johann Hari and some others says the answer for addiction is connection--with others. This is pretty much the point of the talk here. It appears that the majority of people who have drug and alcohol issues will get better with their own initiative. There is however a small percent of people who are physically addicted to substances and no amount of feel-good, think yourself well activities will correct this devastating DISEASE. The physical causes and cures for addictions must be found.

  • @rosiepestel7836

    @rosiepestel7836

    3 жыл бұрын

    True...connection with others is everything; loneliness kills!!

  • @aubreycain3142

    @aubreycain3142

    2 жыл бұрын

    Amen.

  • @Matthew8473
    @Matthew84733 ай бұрын

    Engaging and intellectually stimulating; reminiscent of a book that was both engaging and insightful. "The Art of Meaningful Relationships in the 21st Century" by Leo Flint

  • @EveningTV
    @EveningTV3 жыл бұрын

    Wow! His first line was "Before I woke up on July 11th 2014...." My son died on July 11, 2016.

  • @courtneyalysangaebler3819
    @courtneyalysangaebler38193 жыл бұрын

    I feel like there is no hope!

  • @MissUnderstoodasAlways

    @MissUnderstoodasAlways

    3 жыл бұрын

    There is 💕

  • @SoberDogs

    @SoberDogs

    3 жыл бұрын

    There is Absolutly hope millions have recovered and you can to!!

  • @destinyacoffey

    @destinyacoffey

    6 ай бұрын

    me too. hope things are better for you 3 years later.

  • @katholicdeadanimal
    @katholicdeadanimal2 жыл бұрын

    How old is Tom gill

  • @sarahknapp8549
    @sarahknapp85492 жыл бұрын

    Who is in charge of where the cameras are???? So much of this you hear him, but can't see him. His message is good and hopeful, but he is just exercising the 12th step; working with others. Whether recovering addicts become social workers or skydivers, working with others continues to be the best medicine for relapse prevention.

  • @Mattieberry85

    @Mattieberry85

    8 ай бұрын

    He's in the majority of the frames.

  • @patrickp2836
    @patrickp28364 жыл бұрын

    Not really redefining here. "You can't think your way into right living you have to live your way into right thinking." Congrats if this helps anyone though.

  • @adriennehutchinson5947
    @adriennehutchinson59476 жыл бұрын

    )

  • @msmjserene
    @msmjserene5 жыл бұрын

    Ummmm, in 12 step we have a simple name for this.....fellowship. Been around for ever.

  • @sarahrady8748

    @sarahrady8748

    5 жыл бұрын

    MJ Serene. Isn’t it great when someone finds a new way to pass on a time honored, valued, and effective piece of information. Think of how many more people this will be able to reach and help. All the steps are important and useful but I think that Fellowship is definitely a KEY player in maintaining.

  • @EveningTV

    @EveningTV

    3 жыл бұрын

    This is the thing the AA program gets right. Unfortunately, it gets a lot wrong which is why it fails so many more people than it helps. I am not anti 12 steps I just think we need to offer it as an option among other options. 12 step philosophy is the foundation of 95% of the treatment programs available in the US and most people are never introduced to anything else. The biggest problem with this is that it ignores trauma and does nothing to heal the reason the person started using in the first place.

  • @jasonbachelor604
    @jasonbachelor6042 күн бұрын

    Stop it. You are a kid now, I can only imagine how young you were then Experimentation

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