When does training become trickery become manipulation?In Episode #519 of 'Meanderings', Juan and I discuss: the messy art of celebrating wins, the difference between admiration and genuine celebration, how expectations can warp our enjoyment of milestones, how to separate rewards from celebrations, why minimum thresholds matter, and how to design simple, sustainable rituals that create real memories and why routine can quietly erase the impulse to recognise achievements. Stan Link: https://stan.store/meremortalsTimeline:(00:00:00) Intro(00:02:00) State of the podcast: cadence, book reviews, life updates(00:03:45) Milestones hit but rarely celebrated: listens, views, totals(00:06:50) From optimisation to ease: audio quality, AI cleanup, and routines(00:10:40) Gratitude for better gear versus big milestone parties(00:13:44) Tiny rewards after effort: beer in the shower and habit loops(00:16:56) Long‑term mindset: willpower, running mileage, and durable rewards(00:21:58) Birthdays, experiences, and low‑key celebrations for others(00:24:52) Do milestones create memories worth keeping?(00:30:00) Expectations shape feelings: two athletes, same silver, different joy(00:32:14) Should celebration be separate from expectations?(00:35:15) Rewarding effort vs outcome: half marathon thought experiment(00:40:05) Positive manipulation, parenting and intent behind rewards(00:44:45) Overblown rewards backfire: the doughnut race cautionary tale(00:47:56) Ritualising post‑run rewards without overdoing it(00:51:41) Wrap‑up: goals for next week and tongue‑in‑cheek yacht plans(00:55:18) Closing thanks and sign‑off  Connect with Mere Mortals:Website: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/Discord: https://discord.gg/K99e8fysBnTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/meremortalspodsInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/meremortalspodcasts/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meremortalspodcastsValue 4 Value Support:V4V: https://www.meremortalspodcasts.com/supportPaypal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/meremortalspodcast