By: Mike Murphy, Manager of Alumni Services
On October 27th we took part in the Miami Dolphins 4th Annual Recovery Day Game. This was our 3rd year in a row being in attendance. And what a day it was!
To give you a bit of background information, the Miami Dolphins designate one game every season to focus on their local community in recovery from addiction. They are currently the only team in the NFL that does this. Before the game even starts there is a “sober tailgate” followed by a recovery meeting held at the Tennis Stadium located next to Hard Rock Stadium. At this meeting there are speakers from within the local recovery community to even former Dolphins Players! It’s not only a great way to set the tone, but also a great opportunity for people to mingle with others in Recovery. And if you’re like me, a chance to catch up with some of the people from your old halfway house organization (Big Ups, Fellowship!!).
When arriving to your seats you’ll quickly notice something different about the sign with the section number leading to your seats: “No Alcohol”. As I am sure we can all agree, for many of us, especially those in early recovery, being in social settings can be tough. It can be made especially tough when there is alcohol around. So, it is refreshing to see that where you will be sitting there will not be any alcohol sold or allowed in that section. And yes, they even have staff on duty turning people away that try entering the section with alcohol. And I must admit, not only does it take away a lot of the temptations or triggers of drinking, but it makes for a more peaceful, enjoyable game. This was my 3rd time being in attendance and for the 3rd year in a row, I didn’t witness a single argument or fight amongst others in attendance. Which if you’ve ever been to an NFL game, is somewhat of an accomplishment.
After the game is over, we all head back to the Charter bus that brought us there. What better way to top off a less stressful football game than to be able to kick back in an air conditioned bus with comfy seats? No stress about dealing with the crowds exiting the parking lot and none of the other joys that come with a commuting back to Delray from Hard Rock Stadium. And you can usually tell how much of a success the game was by the amount of people that fall asleep on that bus ride back.
All in all, it was another successful Miami Dolphins Recovery Day Game for Transformations Alumni. Yet again, proving that you CAN have fun in recovery. Which is what it’s all about. But it also goes to show the strength of our community. A few hundred people with like-minded goals taking in a game on a beautiful October Sunday in Sunny South Florida. We already cannot wait until next season’s game! And who knows, maybe we’ll be seeing a Recovery Night game with the Florida Panthers, soon! As always, keep up to date with Lisa and me. And if you’re not already following us on Facebook and Instagram, make sure you check us out!
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