Bull-Moose Yourself
How can we achieve personal growth when college only taught us drinking games?
Fun Fact: I failed out of college before I even graduated high school. Missing the chance to experience those legendary reindeer drinking games in my spry youth, my first exposure to beer pong was at the wrinkled age of 24 with some office co-workers.
Around this time they introduced me to a game I’ve never heard of: Bull-Moose. Surely this game goes by other names elsewhere, but the objective is to never be caught with a drink in your right hand; if someone catches you, they exclaim “Bull Moose!” and you must finish your drink on the spot.
-Photo by Madhu Shesharam
At face value this seems simple enough, just use the left hand. What’s unexpected is that this game requires the mental fortitude of a yogi master to never let your guard down, never let your subconscious control your actions. It is easy to let the body do what it wants to do, if you want a drink you’re going to pick up the glass and drink, the secret key to beating this game is intention and reasoning.
Identifying a reason was simple enough. Working in business sales, the most awkward moments are fumbling to drop whatever occupies your hands to properly greet and introduce yourself to others. Next comes the battle of intention and practice, to always pick up everything with the left hand. Repeating a silly mantra when necessary “If you meet a Bull Moose in the wild, be sure you can greet them with a hearty hello”. This game extended to the point where I would call Bull Moose on myself alone in the morning with coffee to drive this intention as a new habit.
Some co-workers give up and claim they aren’t playing that game when called out. Others see these silly formalities as an opportunity for self development. If one would go to the lengths of playing a college drinking game sober with only themselves to burn a new intentional habit into routine, then what else could we achieve as individuals when we genuinely need to build new life changing habits for ourselves in desperate times of need?
Pop Quiz: How can this story be translated to learning new skills today?
A. Set an intention and Bull-Moose yourself when you miss the mark.
B. Drink more and let the inspiration arrive when it wants to. Good things come to those who float with the whims of what the universe presents to us.
C. The Filthy Subtitle Liar is at it again! The writer didn’t even go to college! What a fraud!
D. Why even go through all this? WoOoW you can shake hands with zero point null extra efficiency, big whoop Bonzo. What’s your next trick; sitting up straight? Loser.