top
Uncategorized Becoming Sober: NOT Drinking with the Yankees
social drinking and sober living

Becoming Sober: NOT Drinking with the Yankees

A personal story by CEO & Founder, Trey Laird.

Yankees Win!

As I was watching the Yankees win and advance to the ALDS last night I was reminded of my lifelong identification as a Yankee fan.  As a kid, I’ll never forget the first time I arrived at “the stadium” and how mesmerized I was by the bright green grass, the smell of popcorn….and beer.

In my 20s and 30s, I went to a lot of games, the Yanks were rolling, winning titles, and making it look easy.  At this point, I was drinking at games regularly and then drinking before and afterward at the bars across River Avenue into the wee hours.  I drank with the guys I went to the game with and if they wanted to go home after, I drank with whoever was in the bar.

My alcoholism was ramping, quickly.

I was there at the Boone game. I was there when Kevin Brown punched the wall.  The more games I went to, the more I drank.

So, when I finally stopped drinking in 2008 I was VERY concerned about going back to the “new” stadium.  In fact, I got sober in July and didn’t go back until they opened the new stadium the following season. (The Yanks missed the playoffs in 2008 and I believe that was a little gift from my Higher Power who didn’t think I was ready to go back)

2009 was an epic season for the Bombers.  New members CC, Tex, and Swisher added to a strong returning cast of Jeter, Jorgie, and Arod.

My first trip back to the stadium in May 2009 I went with 3 other guys in recovery.

The second, third, and fourth trip back I did the same thing. Going to games with friends that I’d made through my recovery community was incredible.  We had a ton of fun, ate too much, cheered our team…and didn’t drink. Together. I had turned the biggest bar in the world (for me) into the same awe-inspiring venue that I experienced as a kid.

I probably went to 25 games that year as the Yanks rolled through the playoffs and to the World Series against Philly.  I was there the night that Matsui single-handedly lifted the team to their 27th title.  I didn’t drink.  It was like winning the World Series for my recovery.

For me, the idea of NOT drinking at a Yanks game or a concert or a Rangers game seemed impossible.  What I found, however, was by becoming sober with other buddies in my recovery community, it was not only possible but made the experience even more fun.

So, LET’S GO YANKS!
And don’t drink.

In Recovery?

The Lighthouse is a premier service provider that provides sober living, recovery coaching, sober companionship, and recovery transport. We have both men and women’s houses to help you live comfortably in recovery. To learn more about our program, please give us a call today at (917) 647-4540.

Where to find us

Chapel

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt.
a