OPINION: Losing Gracefully
Growing up in the Chicago suburbs as a Green Bay Packers fan was a childhood filled with extremes.
Walking into my high school on Monday, Jan. 24, 2011 after Green Bay’s NFC Championship win over the Bears and two weeks later after the Super Bowl XLV victory over the Steelers were arguably two of the better days of my life to that point. I was among less than half a dozen Packers fans in my class, or really among entire buildings for most of my upbringing. That feeling of being on top was incomparable. Although trash talk was not a particular strong suit of mine, I would proudly wear Brett Favre, Ahman Green, A.J. Hawk or Charles Woodson jerseys to school sometimes a couple days into the week after a Packers win over the Bears.
On those rare occasions where the Bears beat the Packers however, the Monday or Tuesday after was a different story. When a game-sealing interception sealed my fate for Monday, a lump would settle in the bottom of my stomach. I’d think about feigning sickness to avoid being sent to school the next day, but my parents would never oblige. Harassment and jeers would come from every angle: teachers, classmates who were football fans and even many who clearly weren’t. If I dared to wear a Packers hat to school, it’d get smacked off my head. Jerseys would stay in my closet, because any reminder of my allegiance would draw ire from friends and acquaintances alike.
As much as those Monday’s were anxious times for me growing up, looking back I am somewhat thankful for these interactions. Both the Monday’s after wins and losses were exercises in coexisting with people with contrary beliefs and allegiances. They also helped me realize that while Packers football was my chosen passion, it was not my entire identity. I learned to not have my joy and self-worth wrapped up in whether one thing I had no control over went my way or not.
There’s a quote from the ESPN 30 for 30 film “Catching Hell” about fandom where the director Alex Gibney says something to the effect of “Life’s disappointments are accentuated when the Red Sox lose.” I have kept that quote in the back of my mind over the years as a reminder to keep losing in perspective. Whether it is a game by your favorite team, a test grade, a job prospect, a love interest or anything else you wish would have gone your way, it is not something worth letting define your happiness.
