CC Sabathia. Recognize that name? If you’re a long-time fan of the Yankees, you probably know all that name about in terms of baseball. This isn’t about baseball, though. Sabathia’s story is about more than that. Earlier this month, he posted on social media and celebrated ten years of being sober. That milestone is worth more than any trophy or record.
For Sabathia, the journey to sobriety was far from easy. Many athletes hide their struggles because they think it makes them look weak. Sabathia moved past that ideal and talked about it, sought help and committed to using that help and changing.
What makes this story inspiring is that it doesn’t feel like it’s about the typical “perfect” hero. Let’s be honest: nobody is perfect. Everyone has faced struggles and made mistakes at some point in their life (don’t tell me you haven’t). This just makes his journey all the more real, hitting home so much more. Sabathia has faced his own setbacks just like anybody else. Everyone loves to cheer for athletes because of the great plays they make on the field, but the real wins are the ones that often happen off of it. It’s important to cheer for them then, too.
Sabathia’s journey is a reminder that success isn’t just about his baseball career (though, of course, that was incredible too). It reminds fans that behind those highlight reels they love to watch is a person facing their own challenges too.
So here’s to Sabathia for committing to stay sober for ten years and counting. That type of commitment and effort deserves a round of applause (and maybe a seat in the Hall of Fame for his bravery to change and strength to work for it along with his talent on the field). He’s more than a former Yankees player; he’s an example that change is possible.
