Member Moment - Clayton

When Clayton first walked through the doors of Recovery Café Longmont in 2020, he wasn’t sure what he’d find. “My first day was probably the fifth time I walked past this place,” he recalled. “I didn’t know what to expect, but I got to talking with Chris, and started going to circles – the rest is history.”

Since then, Clayton has become a quiet cornerstone of our community. A mellow, brilliant presence, he listens more than he speaks – but when he does, it’s with intention. He has a way of dropping profound truths about recovery, fatherhood, and the strength of community that stop people in their tracks. As Program Manager Chris puts it, “He’ll say something that just hits you right in the chest – about how important it is to show up for each other, yourself, and your family.”

For Clayton, showing up started when his daughter was just a baby. “I started my recovery about a decade ago – I looked at it as something I needed to do for my whole family,” he shared. “When my daughter was one, I was drinking heavily. But I didn’t want her to grow up without a dad like I did – so I’ve worked my ass off to be there for her.”

Now ten years old, his daughter is getting ready to start fifth grade; Clayton lights up when he talks about her. “I remember when she came home from the hospital – it goes so fast,” he said.

Each time he comes to the Café, he returns home with an Uncrustable PB&J for his daughter – a ritual with reward, called his “PB&J meeting.” It’s a small act, but it symbolizes something bigger: consistency, commitment, love. “It can be a chore for my family to work on my recovery,” he acknowledged. “I have a schedule and things I need to do for myself, but they’ve been so patient – they spend much less time worrying about me.”

Clayton speaks often of the catharsis and comfort he finds in community. “It feels like I belong somewhere – regardless of where you’re at, you’ll find someone you can talk to,” he said. “I think the most important thing I’ve learned in recovery – that I’m passing along to my daughter – is that you can pause. You can step away from an issue and come back to it.”

Whether he’s encouraging others in Circle, tending to the new beehive with his family, or making therapy and wellness a regular part of his life, Clayton lives what it means to be in recovery. “As I’m in recovery, I see doors keep opening – especially being part of this organization,” he said.

Reflecting on the growth he’s seen in Clayton over the last five years, Chris shared, “He loves his family and his daughter. He makes wellness a priority, which is such an important example to other men and fathers; when you take care of yourself, you can take care of others.”