PINOCCHIO SYNDROME“DON’T BE A DONKEY 021

Look, I love football too.

I always have and I always will. So this is NOT a football rant.

But if we’re honest, for a lot of guys, football season quietly OWNS them.

AUGUST TO FEBRUARY: six-straight-months of Friday night lights, College Game day Saturday and NFL on Sunday, Monday AND Thursday.

A perfect Central Coast day: 74°, barbecue, fantasy leagues, cold drinks, good people…

and somehow, weekend after weekend, our presence, our PRIME TIME as HUSBANDS, FATHERS AND BROTHERS…slips out the back door.

Here’s the truth:

Maybe it’s no big deal? You’ve found a good rhythm, maybe she loves it too, maybe it’s family time for a couple hours on Sunday - watching the Cowboys

But if it’s not?

If you’re isolating from each other, if your training your kids to sit and watch and… drink - then listen up, brother:

DON’T BE A DONKEY

Pleasure Island always looks like fun until the cage door closes.

And wives — don’t just stand there and watch him turn into one.

Call him back - remind him who he is.

Remind him what it feels like to really show up - for you, for the kids

Football isn’t the problem - it’s SEDATION

The cure isn’t guilt — it’s AWARENESS

So this weekend, before you flip on the game, ask yourself one thing:

Am I watching this — or is IT-WATCHING-ME?

REFLECTION

Has your “escape” started to steal more of your life than you meant to give away?

HOMEWORK

Pick one game you’d normally never miss — and SKIP IT

Spend that time awake instead:

play, laugh, listen, make eye contact.

When the itch hits, just say:

“Not today. I’m cutting the strings.”

Weekend at the Workbench

A Friday reflection for men learning to end the week well, stay awake, and live Formed to Serve.