Life Lessons from the Super Bowl

Sunday was one of my favorite days of the year. The time when people join together to stuff their faces with junk food and pancho’s cheese dip, grab their football jerseys, and gather around the TV to watch the Super Bowl and of course a bunch of awesome commercials. In the midst of all the popcorn and M&M throwing and flashes of the digital cameras, I actually walked away with what I think are 3 important lessons from this year’s Super Bowl.

Number 1 - There will always be people who doubt you. Forgot about them.

The doubts started when Manning was in college at Tennessee. He never beat Florida, UT’s biggest rival, and the year after he left, the Volunteers won a national championship. In Indianapolis, the doubt continued. When Payton started 0-3 in the playoffs, people wondered if he would ever win a playoff game. When he finally did that, people said he couldn't beat the Patriots. When he did that, the critics argued he still couldn't win the biggest game of them all.

Life is full of road blocks. For every good idea and dream that you have, there will be 10 people waiting to tell you why your idea and dreams are stupid. Don’t be discouraged when someone shoots you down. Continue to work hard and persevere though those obstacles. It would be Christmas in Chicago right now if Peyton had listened to his critics.

Number 2 - One game can make all the difference

Payton has started nearly 150 NFL games. For years everyone has talked about how Payton has been one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game, who does not have a championship ring. But after those nine seasons and all the lack of respect that he has received, one game, last night’s Super Bowl victory nearly guarantees him in the Hall of Fame and ensures his legacy forever.

I find this reassuring. It comforts me to know that no matter the mistakes that I make in life, the games that I fall short in life, off the field, that we all have the opportunity to change people’s perception of who we are by making a difference when the big opportunity comes our way. Even if people expect something out of you, that you might fail or disappoint everyone, prove them wrong. It’s possible.

Number 3 - No matter what mistakes we make, we are all given a second chance.

I saw this several times in the game. Sometimes in ways I don’t quite agree with such as man arrested for illegal possession of firearms and drugs being allowed to play in the Super Bowl. Three seconds into the game, the Colts kickoff is returned for a touchdown, basically the culmination of a lot of mistakes by Indianapolis. The Colts get the ball right away, and Payton throws an interception. Huge mistake! Turnover, and it is the Bear’s ball. I suspect by this point most Colts fans are yelling at the TV, their season full of hope is coming crashing down as most of us are trying to find away to hold on to the little bit of hope left, but with all of these mistakes the Colts are making, how are they going to win the game?

We all make mistakes. Some of us make more than others, but life is full of second chances. What is important is to learn from our mistakes, and to instead of letting them hinder us, they help us. So often, when we make a mistake, it sets up a chain reaction for other mistakes and everything around us seems to come tumbling down. Instead we must realize that mistakes are a part of growing and learning and necessary for improvement. The Colts could have given up after the touchdown. They certainly could have given up after the interception, but the game was far from over and the Colts proved they could overcome a few mistakes.