On a beautiful sunny day at Cheviot Hills, residents and staff from Muse and Axis Treatment Center/PVRC gathered to engage in a friendly game of basketball. The day was full of camaraderie, teamwork, support, and encouragement both from those on the court and those cheering on from the sidelines. As attendees, we were introduced to a number of new friends and fellow addicts and alcoholics in recovery, which presented us with the opportunity to expand our networks of resources and additional support in sobriety.
Later, we got together to eat a delicious picnic lunch and engage in interesting, productive conversations about our pasts, our experiences, and our hopes and goals for the future. New friendships were formed and old ones solidified throughout this shared experience. Nearly everyone left that day with a renewed sense of hope and belonging, and a newfound faith in the idea that a life of sobriety can truly be fulfilling and fun in an entirely new way.
It can be hard for those new to sobriety to put themselves out there and meet others in the community without the added help of structured sober activities like this. The support system we create for ourselves and the people with whom we surround ourselves plays a critical role in staying sober and moving forward. Not only did sober basketball give participants the opportunity to strengthen this part of their lives, but it also demonstrated what it can be like to have fun in a healthy way in sobriety. People were laughing, high fiving, working together, and cheering on their teammates throughout the afternoon. There was an undeniable feeling of togetherness and celebration of our collective journey as we spent the day basking in the sun.
Events like this help those new to sobriety immerse themselves in the experience and create a strong support system for themselves. In recovery, a positive community and the implementation of fun, group activities can make all the difference. Staying physically active through different sports and exercise plays a major role in sobriety for many people as well, as it has been proven to elevate a person’s mood and state of mind naturally, and serves as an excellent productive activity to incorporate into a life of sobriety. Sober basketball was an excellent example of how powerful these themes can be in cultivating a life of sobriety.
