By: Michael Beiter

On Saturday, September 9, 2023, Chris, a client of two years, said: "If you saw the memories popping up from today on my social feeds, you would be embarrassed for me."

It was the day of the CyHawk Football Game, and statewide, Iowans did their football things in anticipation of the rivalry game. At 2:30, the game kicked off, and rather than being hammered drunk, sunburnt, and unable to enjoy the actual game, Chris was going to meet some friends to watch the game inside.

"I might have a couple of drinks, and we're ordering my favorite local wings, but otherwise, this is a complete 180 compared to how I've lived this day in the past."

Chris is almost 40. I asked him what he would do to reward himself for the progress he'd made in the last month.

"I made an appointment with you today to help me avoid getting drunk with my friends. I used my health improvements to justify making a healthy choice to enjoy this year's game." Chris replied.

I made a note of his answer with a smile and shared an observation:

"Today is supposed to be a day of celebration. People all over the state are rejoicing at the beautiful fall weather, football being back, and harvests approaching. I think it's weird that 'celebration' so often is synonymous with 'self-destruction.'

I'm not spotless here. I followed the group activities of friends and their parents for years. Growing up, I also learned that tailgating typically meant eating and drinking too much.

It's a tricky cultural trend to buck once you smell those grills and hear the bands on a crisp fall morning in Iowa. A beer or Jell-O shot at nine a.m. doesn't seem weird when sixty-thousand people around you are doing it.

I started enjoying these games when I stopped partaking in those activities. Celebration, for me, doesn't involve self-sabotage anymore. I watch games from the comfort of my home with my dogs and family, and no alcohol or excess food involved.

I think you should be happy that you are REWARDING yourself with sobriety and moderation because it's ass-backward compared to what most people do to celebrate." I told Chris.

Chris agreed it's an odd habit we've gotten ourselves into.

And when I thought I had a complete blog post, I went to do cardio this morning and shared a quick convo with a fifty-something woman at the gym while riding.

She pulled up her pics of the weekend and showed me her daughter, who had her FIRST drink ever at this weekend's game. She is a student at Iowa State. I applauded her because I was thousands of beers deep by that time in my life.

The mother I talked to laughed because she said she would sherpa her daughter through her first drinking experience.

"We started with Jell-O shots, and I had about three. Not long afterward, I was wasted! I barely remember the game." she said.

We’ve all been there. But it’s neat to see people’s relationship with this tradition trend toward the healthier.

Think about how rewarding yourself with moderation when you celebrate could improve your experience of your favorite things.