Life Lesson from a High School Football Game

Going to our children's high school football games is a special tradition for our family. We're not big football fans, but we rarely miss a game to support our daughter, who proudly sings the national anthem at every home game. Besides, there’s something magical about being there together—the band, the cheering, the music pulsing through the crowd, and sharing those moments in the crisp evening breeze.

Last night’s game was a rollercoaster. Our team was just a few yards away from the end zone, and everyone was on the edge of their seats in anticipation. The atmosphere was electric, a touchdown seemed inevitable. But in a surprising twist, they didn’t make it and opted for a field goal instead—what seemed like a sure three points. But even that went awry as the ball bounced off the goalpost, eliciting a collective gasp of disbelief from the crowd.

From hope to disappointment, and then another round of it, the crowd's enthusiasm visibly waned. I found myself distracted, thoughts wandering, while the game marched on. But then, something amazing happened. The players didn’t sulk or slow down. They shook off the disappointment like water off their backs and charged ahead with even more determination. By the end of the game, they had scored three more touchdowns!

This got me thinking about how often we wallow in our setbacks. We replay our mistakes, lamenting over what could have been, or how unjust it all feels. We spend too much time brooding over the past. Sure, feeling disappointed is natural after a failure, but what’s crucial is how quickly we can bounce back. Just like the players tonight, we must get up, dust ourselves off, and jump back into the game of life with renewed vigor and a winning mindset.

So next time we find ourselves dwelling too much on past mistakes, remember: life, like the game, goes on and waits for no one. As Nelson Mandela once said, "The greatest glory in living lies not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail.”