Propelled By Purpose: A Journey Of Recovery With David Hill

Propelled By Purpose: A Journey Of Recovery With David Hill

What drives someone to seek a life without alcohol? This conversation between Tim Westbrook and David Hill shines a light on how purpose can fuel long-term sobriety. You’ll hear David, a real estate entrepreneur and lead generation specialist, trace his story from a violent, chaotic childhood with alcoholic parents through county jail at 19, to nearly 19 years alcohol-free.

He talks frankly about growing up “a frigging mess,” using drink to become a different, confident person, and how cocaine eventually failed as his attempt to stay “level enough” while drinking. The emotional turning point comes when he describes meeting “this little black lady” at an outside meeting who asked if he truly wanted to get sober.

Her simple request to humble himself and get on his knees became the start of his daily practice: “I put my knee on the floor quick, jumped back up. And that’s where it all started.” Tim and David dig into why just stopping drinking isn’t enough.

They talk about being “domesticated” by your upbringing, the need for new lifestyle habits, and the scary but vital task of changing “people, places, and things.” David’s sponsor’s straight-talking advice captures it: if you keep driving past your old bar, “find another effing route.” David shares how he broke generational patterns for his three daughters, moving from living in a car as a kid to providing a stable, comfortable home.

He still attends three AA meetings a week and two retreats a year, seeing recovery as a daily commitment, much like going to the gym.

If you’re wondering whether your past has to define your future, or if you’re stuck hanging onto old friends and habits, this episode offers blunt honesty, practical suggestions, and a reminder that “just because this is what you came from doesn’t mean that’s how you have to stay.” Could it be time for your own “knee on the floor” moment?