Meet Ben Arrington

We recently connected with Ben Arrington and have shared our conversation below.

Ben, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.

I was a pretty good athlete growing up. I played varsity golf all four years in high school and earned a scholarship to play golf at New Mexico State University. In my mid 20’s I became addicted to heroin and crack. I almost lost my life a few times because of my use. When I was accepted into a treatment center at the age of 28 I was 104lbs. I’m 5’9” and 170 right now. While detoxing I had acute kidney failure and pneumonia and because of these complications I spent six days in the ICU. So after years of battling with my addiction I finally found a way to cope without drugs and was able to obtain my Class “A” PGA card in May of 2023. I’ve been a golf instructor helping kids that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to play the game of golf. They come from underserved backgrounds in Tucson, AZ.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

So right now I am an Assistant Golf Professional at my home course. But my main focus is on working with junior golfers who are interested in taking their game to the next level. Whatever that may be, making their high school golf team or going on to play golf in college. I wake up every morning excited to work with these young people to help them attain their dreams of playing better golf.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back I definitely don’t let the little things bother me anymore. With the life I’ve lived I’m normally able to stay calm in hectic situations. A cool calm and collected mind works much better than someone running a million miles an hour. Life is short enjoy the little things. In my opinion the little things are what life is really about. And if you can spend as much time with family as you can and the friends that make you strive to be better. Get rid of any negativity in your life.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I’ll give you three books that have been instrumental in my growth as an adult. The Alchemist. The Four Agreements. Memoirs of an Addicted Brain. Now I’m not going to give a deep dive into any of them, but please go out and read them when you have time. The first two are very easy reads whereas the third is a little longer.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Ben_k_arrington