The autumn months on the East End bring a renewed sense of peace following the fast-paced summer season. We may look to restoring hobbies and activities we have neglected during our busiest time of year. From hiking nature trails and clambakes on the bay to touring the farms and markets during harvest season, the Hamptons and North Fork have an endless array of interests for everyone. When it comes to choosing sobriety and successfully maintaining recovery over the last 14 years, Adam Banks has held steadfast to a mindful way of living that encompasses a variety of outdoor activities and interests.
Adam Banks, a drug and alcohol interventionist and former airline pilot, has maintained lasting sobriety by putting his commitment to recovery first. “For me, sobriety is the cornerstone of my wellness plan. I choose to be sober for my health as much as anything else,” said Banks. “The bedrock to my schedule is my 12 step meetings. If I take care of my recovery first, I have the time and peace of mind to do what else I enjoy.”
For Banks, leading an active and mindful lifestyle has been the benchmark for his success.
“I grew up on a lake in northern Wisconsin and lived a very active outdoor lifestyle. I loved water skiing and fishing on that small lake and have taken that with me to the Hamptons by kitesurfing and fishing. The fall is the best time of year for both of these activities,” Banks explained.
“I love to have a mission when it comes to leading an active lifestyle. I go to the beach with the intent to walk a few miles and work on my physical health. Fishing allows me to find solitude and peacefully reflect on my life. Sitting on the water in the cool autumn air and taking in the season’s movement is a great way to peacefully ruminate; that is my view of meditation.
Enjoying a healthy lifestyle is the best way to maintain one. When I go out kitesurfing or fishing I am not only having a good time, but I am also actively working on my physical and mental health. I think it is something we often forget to do in the hustle of the summer, but once autumn comes around the corner, I naturally feel that it’s time for self-reflection. The East End is an amazing place to enjoy activities that restore my body and mind.”
Banks has always lived an active lifestyle, and continuing to do so shows how important it is to stay true to one’s self as season’s change. “I don’t allow an addiction to limit my lifestyle, but rather choose sobriety so that I can live a more fulfilling one, and I have found this way of life to be a far more bountiful harvest. When things begin to slow down in the fall, I find so much comfort and warmth at home with friends and family. There is a sense of togetherness that makes me feel whole. A key to long-term recovery is feeling that sense of connection. It reminds me that choosing to be sober creates a closer bond with my loved ones. That’s why I can’t help but smile, even when I am fighting to untangle lines to my kiteboard or fishing pole. Connection is the opposite of addiction, and I choose to do activities that connect me with others. My hobbies allow me to choose sobriety while sharing space with others at the same time.”
As a former airline pilot and successful healthcare professional, Banks has been around the world and made many meaningful connections with others. He has maintained long-term recovery and his close relationships by doing the work that comes with choosing a sober lifestyle.
“People always ask me if I still go to bars or parties as a sober person. I can, and sometimes I do,” explained Banks. “This is why I like the fall season on the East End. I feel that the pressures of summer (always going out or being invited somewhere) are gone. I can truly enjoy the Hamptons without the busy social schedule.”
Breaking free from a continuous cycle of drugs and alcohol is a tremendous feat, as Banks understands firsthand. “Recovering from addiction is one of the hardest things I have done in my life. I doubt I would be alive today if I had continued on the path that I was on. Sobriety was the single choice that made a positive impact. It made it all worthwhile. My work, family, and social life is a beautiful harvest that I can now enjoy after choosing sobriety and putting in the work.”
Banks added, “My career is crisis management, and my work in addiction is not 9-5. I deal with families in crisis in the mornings, and their loved ones in the late afternoons. I make time for myself mid-day. I can’t run at the level of adrenaline that I do all of the time, it’s vital for me to recover and work on myself. I am thankful for everything the Hamptons has to offer this time of year. Living an active outdoor lifestyle on the East End allows me to help others and myself at the same time.”
Banks has instilled a sense of discipline and structure that supports his sobriety and workflow. He stated, “As a former pilot, I am conditioned to follow a specific process, and to perform that process each time. I wrote a book for recovering families to apply their own processes. ‘Navigating Recovery: Ground School’ thoroughly expands on the 12 lessons that I teach each family concerned about a loved one with addiction.”
He has strengthened his commitment to long-term recovery by helping hundreds of individuals choose sobriety for themselves, breaking through the cycle of addiction caused by drugs and alcohol. His company, Adam Banks Recovery, provides medical treatment for alcohol and opiate addictions.
“Fall is a busy season in my recovery work,” explained Banks. “People that might have a problem with addiction tend to live that out during the summer. Once autumn arrives people have to address a problem that was fueled by the heat of the summer. I often get called when families have reached their breaking point. Addiction is progressive, and I encourage people not to wait; reach out as soon you notice an issue.”
“In my line of work I see lives change before my eyes,” Banks said as he reflects back on his life’s work. “I am invited to help a family in what are typically their worst moments; when I have the opportunity to bring them together I witness the change start to happen. Uniting the family in a constructive way allows the person suffering from addiction to feel supported and gives them the strength to choose a path towards recovery. This special feeling of connection and gratitude is something that I feel very strongly this time of year.”