It is the BIG DAY once again. The day people come together for 3 hours and watch 22 grown men beat the heck out of each other to try to defend and advance the pigskin and gain the greatest victory in their sport– the Super Bowl Championship.
Here are 3 C’s to place you in survival mode and to help you authentically enjoy your day and the festivities.
Connect
The Dallas Cowboys averaged over 88 thousand fans in 8 home games this year. That is the best in the National Football League. The Oakland Raiders average over 50 thousand in the same amount of home games–that is the worst in the league. I point out these numbers first because I am a Cowboys fan. BUT secondly to bring to awareness that people love to connect!
Do you really think that all those people are “fans”? Of course they aren’t. They attend the games to be a part of something bigger than themselves. They desire to belong and that is ok. It is human nature to want to have connection, fellowship and do life with others.
Calm Down
Take a deep breath and relax! For one Sunday of the year….. take one for the team, have fun and live with a smile. It doesn’t take a football fan to enjoy Super Bowl Sunday. I spoke with my sports loathing father who is in his late 70’s yesterday. He explained to me he was going to my brothers house to see who could hit the furthest home run during the Super Bowl. Definitely not a fan– but calm enough and wise enough to understand the Big Game is about them and not him.
Complaining gets you nowhere.
Eat, drink and laugh at the game. Enjoy the people that cheer and jeer. Life is too short to be uptight about a Big Game that brings so many together. Calm down and have fun…..you can do it!
Celebrate
Living abroad has taught me many things. One lesson in particular is people in Brazil love to celebrate each other WITH each other. Not just a congratulatory email or text message– they actually show up and spend time together. They celebrate! I think this is just what you need to survive this day. A celebratory mentality. Laugh at those yelling at the TV. Enjoy the nachos and junk food that brings so much joy. Join the party! Your friends need you to chime in with the shout of Home Run instead of the roar of Touch Down.
Let this be the one day that sets as an example– friends, family, a community–actually a nation being in sync and being together. It really is not about the game–It is about YOU becoming US. It is all about connection. It is much easier to look beyond yourself and join the party than to sit in the corner, alone stewing in hater mode. People thrive on mass celebration! You will survive. For one day choose to be a lover instead of a hater; a connector instead of a complainer. Football hater I have faith in your survival. You don’t have to love the game, but it would bring you great fulfillment to love the people.
Join the party!