From an early age, I struggled with acceptance. I had a pretty normal childhood. I played sports, did well in school, and had a good life on the outside. But one thing I always struggled with was that my father wasn’t a part of my life. I convinced myself that something must have been wrong with me—that I wasn’t lovable. I carried that belief deep inside for most of my life.
By the time I was a teenager, I was already drinking and smoking. By the end of high school, I realized people wanted to be around me if I had drugs or alcohol. At first it seemed harmless enough, aside from a few wrecks and some broken relationships. Looking back, though, I realize I wasn’t chasing a good time—I was trying to fill an emptiness inside of me.
By my late twenties, it wasn’t fun anymore. Life had become a cycle of struggles, dark days, and addiction. No matter how badly I wanted to stop, I couldn’t. I would wake up and promise myself that today would be different. By lunchtime I’d have a bag in one hand and a cold beer in the other. By the afternoon I’d be buying more. Then I’d spend the rest of the day hating myself for using, only to use even more because I couldn’t stand how I felt. That cycle repeated itself day after day.
When I reached my thirties, I knew I had a serious problem, and my life had become very dark. I quit my job, lied to my daughter, and left South Carolina for Florida to check myself into a treatment center for drugs and alcohol. I spent the next three months there learning about addiction and, more importantly, learning about myself.
About two months into treatment, during one of the mandatory meetings, I heard someone tell a story that sounded exactly like mine. I relived the pain, the guilt and the heartbreak, I saw a different person telling a story that felt like me and I knew I had to change. In that moment, I surrendered my life to my Higher Power, whom I know today as God. I finally admitted that I couldn’t do this on my own and asked for help. That simple act of surrender changed everything.
When I came home, I immediately found a sponsor and got involved in Alcoholics Anonymous. I knew I needed new people in my life, so when I came across a post from a group of guys going camping in our local national forest, I decided to join them.
I fell in love with it.
There’s something about driving into the woods that lifts a hundred pounds off your shoulders. The noise of everyday life fades away. You’re left with fresh air, quiet mornings, beautiful scenery, and people who are simply enjoying the moment.
Not long after that, I was introduced to overlanding—vehicle-based adventure travel and camping. There’s something special about navigating trails, overcoming obstacles together, and then ending the day around a campfire, sharing stories under the stars. Those weekends became more than just camping trips. They became therapy. They became fellowship. They became one of the biggest reasons I’ve stayed sober.
I was given the gift of a second chance, and I believe that gift comes with a responsibility to help others who are still suffering in silence.
That’s why we started Beyond Roads Outreach. We take individuals who are struggling with substance use, PTSD, or other mental health challenges and bring them into nature. Our hope is that by getting Beyond the Road, they can find the same peace, healing, and connection that helped save my life—so they can return home as a better father, husband, friend, or simply a better version of themselves.
Phillip, Founder