Last night, the Kansas City Chiefs won their 2nd Super Bowl Championship in five years. It was a celebration featuring plenty of Black excellence. Sheryl Lee Ralph sang the Black National Anthem. Babyface pulled out a guitar with the American Flag on it. Rihanna reminded us of all her hits and revealed that she was pregnant. It was a fun night for most. Not so much, if you are a Philadelphia Eagles fan. On the other side of the party, you have to take an L, as the team you’ve followed all year fell short.

Now that the dust has settled, for those of you who made the trip to Arizona, it is time to fly home. For fans that are wallowing in defeat after dejectedly leaving the bar or a house party last night, we feel your pain. As a sports fan, these moments happen over and over. I root for the Knicks, so that should tell you how much I have had to deal with over the years.

Despite the angst of the loss, it is essential to not let that L travel with you. As you head back home onto that flight or tackle this Monday here are some ways to assure that your travels are met with less pain.

Don’t drink your sorrows away

You might have already had a drink or three during the game. Don’t keep that party going at the airport bar, on the plane, or in the morning as you prep for the day. Grab some water or a cup of coffee and get yourself back together.

Stay off the socials

This is not the time to see memes about your loss. Social media will be filled with highlight after highlight of your team’s losing plays. Take a break from the Gram and read that novel you’ve been waiting to check out. Make that call to mom you’ve been meaning to make. Binge watch a new show. Just avoid it for a while because the jokes are waiting.

Fill the void

The football season is officially over. If you’re a sports fan, there are plenty of other options out there. The NBA season is at its halfway point. Baseball’s Spring Training is approaching. Hockey, English Premier League Soccer, Cornhole, all of it is out there. Reclaim your time with another team.

Big Picture

If the pandemic taught us anything, it served as a reminder that the devastation of a loss pales in comparison to the loss we experienced over the last couple of years. These losses are part of sport but life is bigger than it all. There are devastating moments happening all over the world that demonstrate how temporary the pain from a game can be.

Find Community

There is another fan of your team out there. Find that other same-colored jersey or cap and talk shop. This is a great time to do some football trauma bonding. Talk to each other about what could have been.

Optimism

There’s always next year. Seriously, it’s never too early to think about what changes need to happen so that someone else is dealing with this pain next time. Think about your rival teams and how trash they are. That should put a momentary smile on your face.

Ultimately, if you are feeling any pain, it means you are a solid fan. It was a great run. Safe travels and good luck next year.