The (Playoff) Hangover

The reason for this title the hangover is because as now we are in the New Year we could still be hungover from things last year or even in the past. Well whether it is from Winning or losing a Superbowl or even Suffering an embarrassing playoff series. It can come from our own situation whether we obtained the college degree and we still live through those glory days or we understand the situation where the journey is not over, it is just beginning,and the work is also just started too. Even seeing failure where it has happened in history unfortunately where it can get to you or even be devastating as well and can be tough as well.

I explain this story because I heard an interview from NBA athlete Damian Lillard where he and his team witnessed finishing the top 3 in the conference where he end up getting swept by a lower seed team that was a 6 seed team. And the quote that he did say was, "When it happened,I knew I couldn't,(You know) hold on to it for too long, It wasn't like I was going to be able to go back and play the series over again, or go back and change anything." The point of that was he had to understand why it happened and use the past to make you better and not get distraught and let it hang over your head, and let it rain all over you, including it being a cloud over your head. Seeing how he is trying to bounce back and really figure out why it went down like it did was a very interesting fact.

Don't even forget Tom Brady who had the most devastating loss in Superbowl 52 where he had to use his Superbowl 52 loss where he had to use that as a teachable moment especially for his children, and understanding that the new season is a completely brand new season especially where whatever was behind you even though it follows you for the rest of your life. Even where he said process what happened last season whether it was win or lose and you can't really bask in the glow of what happened last season, and understand how to move on to the next and just focus on what's ahead and even what is in the now, or even what is coming up.  Not just focus on what is ahead but focus on what else is around you, for him it is his wife and children and even understanding they are getting older and just cherish what is there and understand what comes and goes. Seeing how he plays and how he continues to get better and keep playing and especially having successful years, and even at one point kept showing up in the playoffs no matter how suffering the results are, or even embarrassing, it is about focusing on how to bounce back and get better and he is a perfect example for it. 

For me I am working on really understanding that I can't let anything really hold me back from moving forward or even moving past what is done. Basically understanding what's done is done, and really figuring out how to accept it. Because the question is How Do You Accept it? Because you can sweep it under the rug and pretend it didn't happen and it will catch up to you. Or even lament where you let the past drag you down. Or the next option is Figure out why it happened understand it, and ask yourself questions instead of thinking you answers without questions to dish the answers to. If you try that and really understand the importance of questions and even use more thinking as well.

The main lesson of the emphasis of the word HANGOVER is understand that you have to work on moving forward and keep up with the present, which understand and think today is a gift, which is why it is called the present.  Whether it was eventful or disastrous you have to overcome what has been done before and really think about what you can do different, because the old saying is "If you don't change from History you are doomed to repeat it." Or a quote from John Stamos "It takes strength to let go of a grudge, not hold on to it."  Keep striving for something positive, instead of letting the negative effects get to you and a better future will happen. Happy New YEAR, and hope this YEAR is Better than LAST YEAR.