When Things Are Bad.

In an earlier blog, “Saint or Demon? Neither I’m a Tiger!” I mentioned that “in Melbourne, Australian Rules Football, is king, and that some have even called it our own unique religion, with people often more committed to their particular team than to anything else.” Although only nominally so, I am a supporter of the mighty Tigers, from Richmond.

Before the Season started I read an article about the Tigers, where both the Captain and Vice Captain said that their goal for the coming year was, “Finals or failure.” In their minds, if they didn’t reach the final 8 in the coming Season, then they would consider the Season a failure. At the time I commented that “ In one sense it sounds a noble goal but considering that they finished 9^th last year, an improvement of one position doesn’t seem that ambitious, does it? However as I thought about it, I realized that although they only needed to move up one space to reach their goal, there really is no guarantee that any movement they have, will be up. It is just as likely that the movement could again go the other way, maybe not to 15^th (Or worse) again, but still worse than 9th.”

Well, after 8 games with no win, it seems that I am an even worse prophet of doom, because we are now sitting at the bottom of the ladder with 15 teams above us. So as a supporter of a team in the doldrums completely, what should we poor old Tiger supporters do?

Look for a new team? No! Stick with what we have and move on. Most importantly we need to keep on believing! There is always next week and another chance, and if not then, there is always next week or next month, or even next year. Success will come eventually, as long as we don’t get discouraged and give up.

Secondly we need to keep the faith and hang on in there and not get discouraged. As long as we (the team) are doing the right thing and their best, success will eventually come. Where we can be of practical assistance to the Team, we should, but when we can’t we should simply continue to give them our vocal and moral support and hang on in there with them until success returns. As stated in point one, it may take time but it will come again and be even sweeter for the wait.

Finally we need to draw support from other supporters and in turn support them, and be of mutual encouragement to one another. In these things, we are not alone, although we often think so. (More on this point in a later blog.)

How are things in your game of life? Does it appear that you too are in the middle of an extreme loosing streak and you just feel like giving up? Well don’t. Take the advice above and keep on believing in yourself and or your team, hang on in there, and draw on fellow travellers for support. Walter