*Jack Thompson had always been a big guy, with a hearty appetite to match. Growing up in the small town of Pickaway West Virginia, he'd developed a fondness for the simple pleasures in life, like a big plate of his mama's homemade dumplings or a juicy sausage sandwich from the local diner. So when the news broke about major food companies like CJ CheilJedang and Ottogi reducing the sizes of their products while keeping prices the same, it struck a chord with Jack.

The practice of 'shrinkflation' reminded him of his own struggles with addiction, how he'd slowly but surely shrunk his own portions of self-respect and self-worth over the years as he'd fallen deeper and deeper into the grip of substance abuse. It was a slippery slope, and one that had cost him dearly – his job, his relationships, and nearly his life.

That's when Jack stumbled upon the Stepping Into Action program on the Hofman Hollis website. The program's emphasis on taking tangible steps towards recovery resonated with him, and he decided to give it a try. At first, it was tough – years of bad habits and self-destructive patterns didn't disappear overnight. But with each small victory, Jack found himself gaining confidence and a newfound sense of purpose.

'You know, it's like they say – you can't change the world all at once, but you *can* change yourself one step at a time,' Jack mused to his sponsor one day over a cup of strong black coffee. 'And if these big companies can shrink their products and still expect us to pay the same price, well, I figure I can do the opposite – keep expanding my own worth, one day at a time.'

While some experts praised Jack's approach, lauding the power of online recovery programs to reach those in even the most remote areas, others were more skeptical. 'These programs are all well and good,' one psychologist argued, 'but there's no substitute for in-person therapy and a strong support network.' Still others maintained that the root causes of addiction, from mental health issues to societal pressures, needed to be addressed more holistically.

Regardless of the debates raging in academic circles, Jack knew one thing for certain: taking that first step towards recovery had been the best decision he'd ever made. It wasn't easy, and there were still challenges ahead, but for the first time in a long time, he felt hopeful – and that was worth more than any shrunken package could ever be.

Nearby: Kire Virginia