We all love a good comeback story don’t we?
Johann Santana came back from shoulder surgery last year to pitch the only no-hitter in Mets history. Some sports writers are already talking about him being “Comeback Player of the Year.”
As a society, we love comeback stories. We love the rags to riches to rags and back to riches again stories. Our tabloid culture loves to create celebrities and then tear them down. We love them even more if they reinvent themselves and save their careers.
I remember as a young girl always rooting for the underdog because cheering for the favorite seemed too easy and obvious. Life is that way sometimes too. The best times I have ever had cheering someone on is when I knew they would be back. They had more to say, they had something else to contribute and they would be back.
Just like me.
Which is why I say don’t call this a comeback. Call it a renaissance.
Life has a way of moving forward, either with us or without us. Longtime friends move away or have a falling out with us for what seems to be no reason. Loved ones can die with no warning and we have no choice but to accept it.
Which is why l love comeback stories. The worse the conditions, the more I love it and the more I relate to it. Stories of struggle and survival, of finding unearned gifts when they were most needed, are the things that keep me going when life gets hard.
Trust me, no one loves you when you are down and out. Nobody cares what your problems are and when you are homeless, you may as well be invisible. When people find out that I was homeless for a stretch earlier this year, they treat me like I had a social disease. The truth is that I was no different than anyone else.
The only difference was a lack of money to fix my problems. That was it. The guy working three jobs to support his family is one unexpected bill away from being in deep trouble himself if he is not careful. That is why judging people is so poisonous. Without the whole story, we are left to fill in the blanks and many times we make up answers as we see fit.
This is why I love the underdog. I love the people with that fighting spirit who don’t pay attention to their critics, but instead do what they feel is right. These people are real heroes among us.
How do you want to be remembered, as a Phoenix rising above the ashes or as the loser who never even tried?
How subtle, Nancy, I love this!
I’d much rather root for the underdog than move along with the crowd adoring some artificial celebrity. I have been this way all my life and it has rewarded me with meeting so many interesting people, in the long run will we not forget about the hardships and smilingly think back of all the wonderful things we have experienced?
Subtle as a sledgehammer right? Meeting the great people here has been the biggest bright spot in my life. Everyone here has shown me something and that has been the greatest gift of all.
Oops, no I did not mean that, I was mesmerized by you using the word “renaissance” which reminds me of Italy and all the masterpieces of the Rinascimento. To come out of hard times even stronger and more beautiful – or take your phoenix rising above the ashes.
I do agree with you that we meet great people here but it is also a special environment where we take the time to communicate with someone and can show our empathy, it is more like a bubble whereas in real life we seem to have forgotten to focus on someone even for a few seconds and dash from one task to another appointment, completely taken up by our schedule and hardly manage to get out of the hamster wheel.
You know, Nancy, it’s the emotional toll that being “down” takes that is the hardest to explain to people. When someone sees your life they can see how to fix things easily. So can I! But add the head games and confusion they cause…that makes what your going through hard to understand unless someone else had experienced it.
I will always want to stay in the game!
That’s true Betsy. Unless you have been there you cannot fully understand what someone else is going through. I remember when I lost my Dad which meant now both my parents were gone. It was only another person who lost both parents who could relate to my feelings. It does not mean others don’t care, but they simply can’t relate because that is not their life experience.
Hey, Nancy,
Looking forward to the renaissance.
I love underdog stories (who doesn’t?)
Life is not exactly easy, but you are a fighter, that’s for sure. Maybe it’s that killer NJ instinct, huh?
Just good to see your post pop up in my email again. Welcome back!
I am glad to see you too my friend! Being from Jersey no doubt adds to my “killer instinct”
I remember watching the Superbowl last winter and no one gave my boys the NY Giants a chance. They could have rolled over and played dead, but instead they became Superbowl Champs.
Being the underdog is not always a bad thing if you use it to your advantage.
I am the same, cheer for the underdog! I can’t even begin to fully understand what you are and have been going through! I do know I have missed your post!!! Just FYI… I have about 10 stacked up on to do list to read; however, when I saw yours, I went to read it first. The others could wait for say tomorrow or the weekend. I’m cheering for you Lady! Hugs to you…
I always knew you had great taste in blogs Denise! Having the chance to have met people like you has made blogging one of the best learning experiences of my life. Thanks for sticking with me. I appreciate it so much.
I love that you’re blogging again, sister. You are the voice of reason and clarity and you speak TRUTH. This is one of my all time favorite quotes (from To Kill a Mockingbird): “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.”
Have a blessed day, Nancy
Wow Bonny I love that quote! I have one about courage too. (I forget who it is from) “Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to walk through that fear” I always want to be the one who keeps on walking.
We will not be remembered for how many times we were down, but we will be remembered for how many times we got back up.
I love your attitude. It is the reason why I am confident you will figure out how to get through this time.