Baseball and Booze

Safety and Sobriety at a Baseball Game 

Baseball has always been a favorite American past time. So when I was invited to a professional baseball game, I jumped at the offer. 

Baseball in the City

The baseball game was in a beautiful downtown stadium.  The atmosphere was electric. My team won and the game concluded with an amazing fireworks show.

When I go to a sporting event, I like to watch the people and sites around me.  This particular stadium offered entertainment on the field and in the stands.  One of the first things I noticed was the free flowing alcohol.  I saw beer and frozen drink stands. Men in yellow shirts were walking up and down the aisles hawking beer and frozen margaritas.  

It was a time of baseball and booze. 

Watching the people drinking alcohol raised some questions in my mind . . . 

- If a person gets drunk, how do they safely get home?

- Is underage drinking being encouraged?

- How well would a recovering alcoholic manage at a baseball game?

I did some research on the internet and read the following regarding stadium's active involvement in fan's safety after a game:

"Some stadiums are taking an active role to ensure their fans’ safety when they leave the game. The Diamondbacks, Chicago White Sox, and Detroit Tigers partner up with TEAM Coalition (Techniques for Effective Alcohol Management) to educate fans about alcohol responsibility. Their newest campaign, Responsibility Has Its Rewards, offers incentives for those who participate in the program. For example, in 2005, one Diamondback fan who participated as a designated driver had the chance to win tickets to the All-Star Game."

Learning of stadium's taking steps to ensure fan's safety is good to know.   

On the ride home, my uncle made the following observation about the game, 

"I realize now that for many people going to a baseball game is more of a social time.  The people sitting around me did not seem to be watching the game.  They were up and down and changing seats.  I saw them spending enormous amounts of money on alcohol and food.  And then they left early."

As a person in recovery, going to a baseball game where booze flows freely could become an insurmountable temptation.  It might be wise, if you are new to living a sober life to wait on attending a baseball game.  You can always watch it on television.  However, for the person who has been in recovery for awhile, I do  believe it is possible to go to a baseball game and survive the temptations.  

Planning your trip to the baseball game is key.  

Here are a few things you may want to do to survive the temptation to drink alcohol:

- If the stadium allows it, bring water bottles.

- Leave your cash at home, alcohol is sold on a cash basis.

- Sit with people who are not drinking.

- Focus on the game. 

- Have sober fun.

Watching sporting events can be a memorable experience.  Plan to make it a positive memory.

To read more on what stadiums are doing to make games safer for fans:  http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,288676,00.html#ixzz1OJ4mT9Cd

 www.stages2change.com

Taking One Day at a Time

As I lay My Head to Rest

I contemplate my days activities.

My mind replays the conversations.

Was I listening? 

Was I kind? 

Did I offer encouragement?

As I lay my head to rest

Can I sleep?

Am I fearful?

Is something still unsettled?

Do I need to forgive?

As I lay my head to rest

Thinking . . .

Forgiving . . .

I remember to be thankful for three things.

I review my day again . . . slowly and say to myself . . .

I am thankful for good health.

I am thankful for supportive friends and family.

I am thankful God is giving me a second chance.

As I lay my head to rest . . . 

 . . . I yawn, 

 . . . . . . turn over on my bed,

. . . . . . . . . and gently

. . . . . . . . . . . . fall 

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . asleep.

www.stages2change.com

Pausing to Hear God's Whisper

Taking a Daily Quiet Time

I picked up a book at the local Goodwill store the other day.  It is called "The Power of a Whisper" by Bill Hybels.  Reading it this morning, I am reminded of the importance of cultivating a quiet time in my daily routine.  When I was a child, my mother would instruct me to have a quiet time in the afternoon.  I was to remain in my room and rest.  I could take a nap or quietly read a book. I was not allowed to make any noise.  

A quiet time sitting in nature.

Over the years, I have learned the benefit of a daily quiet time.  As a Christian, a morning or afternoon time of being still and quiet helps me to hear God's gentle whisper. 

I admit, I am not always so spiritual,  more often I am just plain exhausted.  In the afternoon, I will sit in my recliner and take an hour nap.  A mid day time of quiet and rest restores my body and mind.  Resting prepares me for the afternoon and evening conversations and interactions.

Let's face it, making changes for a more healthy lifestyle is not easy.   Sometimes it is downright exhausting.  Bringing a balance of rest and activity into the daily process can assist when the stressful times mount up.   

I realize you may not be able to nap during the day.  However, it may be possible for you to step outside and pause in nature.  When you have a break at work, perhaps you can step outside for five minutes and quietly reflect on your day.  The point is to slow down and stop the noise.  To be still and rest.  To pause and listen for God's gentle whisper. 

To learn more about the stages of recovery from addiction check out the website:  www.stages2change.com

Taking a Risk for Better Health

You Can Do It!

  
Traveling through Iowa, I took a picture of a sign that was a good reminder to me about making changes and taking risks.  The sign was written to remind parents and encourage children to keep taking small risks. 

Risking is key to growing up.

Risks are about making changes, and changes are never easy.  When is the last time you took a risk?  I mean really attempted to do something that you thought was scary or could be disastrous?  Did you know that risking is key to growing up?

As a child, taking risks is  commonplace.  It is all apart of being young and experiencing new things.  When we become adults, we can stop taking risks.  We can develop daily habits and routines that are often hard to change.  Sometimes these habits and routines are not the most healthy. What if you did a little experiment to see how easy it would be for you to make a change?

You could mix up your daily routine in some way.  For example: if your morning routine is to crawl out of bed, pull on your robe, step into the kitchen and pour a cup of coffee, sit in the recliner and read the paper before facing the world . . . you could change your morning routine and see how easy it is for you.  Perhaps you get up, get dressed, go for a half a mile walk around the neighborhood, come home, have coffee and then read the paper.  How well would you adapt to the change in routine? 

Sign in play area in the Des Moines, Iowa Science Museum

Recovery from addiction requires many small changes and many risks.  Recovery is choosing to let go of unhealthy habits and choosing to embrace healthy habits.  Taking risks and making healthy changes is easier when you are not alone.  A supportive community and recovery counselor can walk with you through this process.  Decide today to take that first risky step towards good health.  You will be glad you did.

To learn more about how to overcome addiction and develop a healthy lifestyle check out our webpage at:  

www.stages2change.com

A Soldier's Health

Alcohol Abuse in the Military

Sign of patriotism - flag in barn - Iowa, USA

Today is Memorial Day - the day we remember our country's military veteran's and those actively serving in the military.  Since I am a military brat, it is easy for me to remember the men and women in the service.  

My father served in both the Army and the Air Force.  My mother died six years ago and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.  This week American flags will adorn each grave in the military cemeteries to honor our countries military.  I have many memories of growing up in a military family.  I remember . . .

. . .passing through the military gate as an Airmen salutes my father. 

. . .stocking up with groceries at the Commissary.

. . .showing my military ID to enter the Base Exchange. 

. . .relocating to a new military base every couple of years.

. . .my father kissing me goodbye as he prepared for a year in Vietnam.

Military sacrifices impact military families. 

The military lifestyle brings with it excitement and adventure along with loneliness, stress, and uprootedness.  

Military soldiers work hard and they play hard.  Attending happy hour on Friday is commonplace.  Happy hour is a time of comradarie and heavy drinking. Unfortunately, drinking which starts out as a time of relaxing can become a method of coping.  Alcohol abuse in the military is all too common.  The statistics run at over 20% of individuals in the military abuse alcohol.  This alcohol abuse is described as "drinking too much alcohol in a short span of time".   Alcohol abuse costs the Department of Defense hundreds of millions of dollars a year and causes unnecessary accidents among the soldiers. Even with such high statistics for alcohol abuse, some states like Georgia and Alaska are pushing for a new law to allow military men and women to drink alcohol at age 18.  The thinking goes like this "if you are old enough to fight in the war, you are old enough to drink a beer."  My question is - "is this wise?"   

I am wondering . . . what are your thoughts on lowering the age for alcohol consumption in the military?

To learn more about addiction and alcoholism check out the free resources at: www.stages2change.com