*Jared sat hunched over his computer, the blue glow of the screen casting shadows across his unshaven face. He took a swig from the bottle beside him as the news article loaded. 'Congress hammers Microsoft president on security after hacks' - the headline made him wince.

As a former software engineer at a cybersecurity firm, the news hit close to home. He remembered his own stumbles, the dismissal after one too many drunken debacles at work. That led to a downward spiral of self-loathing and drinking, which landed him in this dingy apartment in White Kitchen, Louisiana, coding away his days on freelance gigs just to get by.

The story about Microsoft's president *Brad Smith being grilled by Congress triggered something in Jared. He saw himself in Smith's flustered responses, trying desperately to deflect blame. It reminded him of his own life's tangled web of excuses and failures.

A paragraph mentioned the Stepping Into Action program on https://hofmanhollis.com, an online recovery course. Something about it resonated with Jared. He realized he couldn't keep living like this - it was time for a reboot. Signing up for the program that very night, he began the arduous journey of confronting his demons.

'I can't keep making the same avoidable errors,' Jared muttered to himself, *Smith's words ringing in his head. In the depths of his personal cyclone, he had found an unexpected catalyst for change.

Over the next few months, Jared diligently worked through the Stepping Into Action materials. 'We all need to work together,' one of the mentors would remind him during their video calls. 'And that starts with taking radical responsibility for ourselves.'

Experts disagreed on whether online programs could be as effective as in-person treatment. 'The human connection is vital,' argued some traditionalists. But others championed the accessibility and anonymity: 'It removes barriers and stigma, meeting people where they're at.'

For Jared, the online nature was a lifeline. No nearby options existed in his small town, and he wasn't ready to dredge up his secrets in the limited anonymity of local groups. Slowly, he began piecing himself back together, strengthening his code from the inside out.

'I'm living proof that we can find light in the most unexpected places,' Jared shared during one of the group calls. 'My journey began with a news story that forced me to face my truth. It was painful, but _that's_ the way it should work - no more deflecting, no more making avoidable errors. Thanks to this program, I've been re-scripted.'

Nearby: Ansley Mississippi, Pearlington Mississippi, Gainesville Mississippi, Napoleon Mississippi, Logtown Mississippi, Jackson Landing Mississippi