Every year as the school year winds down and glimpses of summer are on the horizon, Memorial Day makes its way through the calendar year. Although Memorial Day is a sorrowful day to recognize those in the military who died during their service to the country, this day has become a gathering for friends and families. Backyard parties with barbequing and swimming are often how people celebrate this federal holiday and the three-day weekend.
Often these three-day weekends can be pretty difficult for people who suffer from addiction. Two things can happen. They could overshoot the mark with drugs and alcohol since everyone else is and no one will probably notice. They could also be sober and see everyone else “having fun” only to start developing cravings. What you need to know is that you can still commemorate Memorial Day and stay sober. You just need to make sure you are prepared for what you are getting yourself into or find a sober activity to have fun without drinking and using.
Host a Sober Barbeque
This is a day that most people barbeque, and you can too. If you are worried about being around everyone getting hammered, then host your own sober barbeque. Then invite your recovery buddies and have some sober fun. Your invitees will delight in an environment where they are not being tempted to drink and use. The party will actually focus on genuine fun and delicious food rather than being under the influence. Grab some hamburgers, hotdogs, and all the fixings and have a blast with sober friends. You will be ecstatic when you wake up the next morning with your same sobriety date and with all your memories intact.
Take a Hike
Memorial Day is typically celebrated outside so why not take a hike to appreciate nature. Find some local trails and start your way through them. There is nothing better than breathing some fresh air while you are taking in the views and getting some exercise in the process. Instead of waking up foggy and hungover the next day, you will feel refreshed from the scenery and feel more connected to the earth. You may be a little sore, but just know this too shall pass and your body will be thankful for the physical activity.
Have a Picnic
If you do not have the capacity or the resources to host a party at your house, then find a park, lake, or beach where you can have a picnic. Being outdoors is a great place to naturally hang out with friends and be comfortable. Bring a blanket and some picnic themed items to eat such as sandwiches, potato salad, chips, or cookies. You will want some easy items to serve and are enjoyable to eat. Don’t forget to bring a ball to toss, a frisbee or a kite for some entertainment. You can get hours of simple pleasure through the no-trouble event that a picnic provides.
Seek an Entertainment Center
You may just crave some fun for Memorial Day. Find an entertainment center that offers go-karts, bowling, arcades, rides, miniature golf, or batting cages. Most likely you can find something local that houses activities like these to have a great time with your friends. Distraction is the name of the game in recovery to keep dangerous cravings for drugs and alcohol from popping up all of the sudden. Laughter and fun are some of the best distractions that you can muster. You deserve to have fun in recovery and finding ways to achieve adult playtime will be epic.
Go See a Movie
Memorial Day weekend is known for putting out huge blockbuster movies to start off the summer. Purchase a ticket, grab a bucket of popcorn, a box of candy, and a gallon-sized soft drink so that you can enjoy your movie to the highest degree. Get lost in the magic of the big screen so that you can divert yourself from wanting to drink or use. If you do not have the means to get to a movie theatre, set up a binge session from one of your streaming apps. You can even pop popcorn and have some tasty snacks that will not break the bank. You can set a similar experience in your home theatre like you would going out to the movie theatre, but you are in control of your locale.
Attend a Recovery Meeting
One of the best ways to stay sober is to become a member of a 12-Step program. By getting affiliated with others who also suffer from drugs and alcohol, you can create a bond based on your common peril. When cravings are a concern, going to a meeting to hear the solution for addiction can help you navigate the obsession of the mind. Addiction is powerful and can provoke weakness to drugs and alcohol without someone even realizing it. Meetings can remind you why you are sober in the first place so you can keep coming back.
Offering a full range of recovery and mental health services, Valiant Living offers “Expanded Recovery” to enrich our clients’ lives in mind, body, and spirit. Through evidence-based therapy options and the endless adventure of Colorado, Valiant fosters connection, encouraging clients to get connected to themselves, their peers, their families, and their higher power. With the power of recovery, clients are restored to full health and experience life-changing healing. Call us today for more information: 303-536-5463
