The Ignite Recovery Launch

This Week’s Issue Is Late — For a Good Reason

Welcome back to Mind by Fire.
This week, I wanted to share something a little different.

A while back, I shared about my sober living program and the upcoming launch of Ignite Recovery — a community initiative built to bring people in recovery together through food, fire, and fellowship.
If you missed that background, you can read the earlier issue here:
👉 Overdose Awareness: Building Bridges in Recovery

Well, this week’s issue is coming out a day late, and that’s intentional.
Yesterday was the Ignite Recovery Launch.

The Scene

The scene was set with a full display of open-fire cooking.
My trailer — equipped with a smoker and fire table — was fired up with meats sizzling on the grill.
Asado de puerco cooked traditionally in a cazuela, the rich aroma of chiles and spices blending with the wood smoke in the air.
Another fire table held gators, ribs, and chickens roasting over open flame, the wood positioned just right to push heat with the direction of the wind.

Music was blaring from the DJ.
People were dancing, laughing, and enjoying the day — with family and friends helping feed the crowd.
Ignite Recovery was serving its purpose — creating a space where people could show up, have fun, and be part of something meaningful.

What Ignite Recovery Is About

Ignite Recovery is a monthly cooking series that gives residents a positive, skill-based outlet — a chance to trade old habits for better ones and put that same energy into something creative and productive.

Every person in the recovery community has something to offer — a skill, a story, a strength.

For me, that’s cooking. It’s always been a hobby, something I enjoy, but I wanted to use it in a way that meant something — without turning it into another job.
Through Ignite Recovery, I get to do just that — by teaching, cooking, and creating for purpose.

A New Beginning in Tarrant County

With the support of the Tarrant Recovery Housing Alliance, the recovery community showed up strong for this first event.
Several DFW treatment centers came together to help fund and support the launch, standing alongside sober living residents to make it happen.

It wasn’t just about cooking — it was about connection, teamwork, and proving what’s possible when programs across the county work together toward a shared purpose.

How It Works

Here’s a brief description of how the program runs:

1. Rotating Home Hosts

• Each month, a different sober living home in Tarrant County will host a cookout.

• Hosting rotates between homes to encourage participation and unity across programs.

• The hosting home is responsible for planning the main dish, organizing its cooking setup, and preparing to serve guests.

• This gives residents the opportunity to lead, work together, and showcase their effort and creativity.

2. Participating Homes

• Homes that are not hosting are encouraged to participate by contributing a dish, dessert, or side that complements the host’s main meal.

• This fosters teamwork and engagement across all recovery homes.

• Homes can also choose to cook the same main dish as a friendly competition, allowing residents to practice their skills, experiment with flavor, and take pride in their craft.

The Long-Term Vision

• As the program develops, the goal is to host larger fellowship events that bring together recovery programs, alumni, and supporters from across multiple counties.

• Then evolve into friendly yearly cooking competitions, offering residents the chance to showcase their skills, teamwork, and growth.

• Funds raised through these events will go toward a scholarship fund that helps individuals enter sober living programs and homes — removing financial barriers for those ready to take the next step in their recovery journey.

What stood out most wasn’t the fire or the food — it was the feeling of everyone being part of something bigger.
You could see it, hear it, and feel it.
That kind of energy is what keeps the fire going.

— Steve
Founder, Better Days Sober Living
Creator, Mind by Fire & Ignite Recovery

Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.