Positively Purple - Season 2
Jul 27, 2023 18:37:59 GMT -6
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Funkytown, Purple Pain, and 1 more like this
Post by Positively Purple on Jul 27, 2023 18:37:59 GMT -6
For the 2022 season, I wanted to try a new approach. Encouraged by my adult son (who I have cursed/blessed him with this whole purple fandom), I wanted to put aside those negative thoughts, those haunting blights of negativity. You know the ones; “we’re not making this first down” and “we are definitely giving up that 75 yard go ahead scoring drive” and “probably going to fumble”. It’s how we’ve been conditioned to feel over the decades so really it’s not our fault. It’s what we’ve been molded into.
Alas, I wanted to shed those thoughts of dread and instead turn them the glass being half full. “There we go giving up the lead” turned into “It’s okay, the offense will get it back”. Failures of the past moment like “How are we stalling on their side of the field” became a positive for a future moment like “It’s ok. Joseph will get us points. Next time”.
For the most part it worked. In emphasizing more positive thoughts, more positive things happened. We set a record for 4th quarter comebacks. That leaky defense would suddenly find the compound when we needed it most to stuff an offense that had just spent the entire game moving up and down the field with ease. Field goals went through the uprights instead of wide left. Receivers made that catch. The defense stuffed that 4th and 1. It was AMAZING!
But it’s a long, long season. At the end of the day, I was worn out. My ability to stay more positive became harder and harder to find and maintain. Apparently, leaving behind 5 decades of disappointment is harder than I could ever imagine. Slowly as the season progressed, I found it more difficult to eventually the wildcard game is honestly a blur. I felt defeated before the game began. I failed. Honestly, it’s taken this long for me to get over it and to want to write something.
Every page gets turned. A new season has dawned and I feel it’s time to get going. It’s time to start reviewing this roster I. This training camp and try to did the positive gain. It’s there. It exists. You just have to be willing to brush aside those negative thoughts and start finding the light. Here are some example that I am thinking of.
Old Me: “What’s up with Cine and Booth? What a waste of picks.”
New Me: They’re kids. They are learning their 2nd defense in 2 years. They are both coming off injuries. I am NOT ready to write them off. They have a lot to contribute even if it’s mostly on special teams. I believe in them and when they get on the field, as they eventually will because of merit or injuries, I will have the utmost faith that they will produce. LET’S GO!
Old Me: “We really need Hunter or this defense will be crap”.
New Me: “Whatever happens with Hunter happens. If they sign him, great. If they don’t, then we’ll have some draft capital for 2024. I have faith ina combination of Woonum and Jones. Plus I believe there will be some surprises by name we’ve never heard of. I think Davenport is ready to have his best season. LETS GO!
Old Me: “The young corners are going to get toasted all season”
New Me: “I LOVE THIS CORNER ROOM! Murphy will have his best season as a leader. I loved Evans last year and can’t wait to watch him every Sunday. Williams will be perfect for this system. I love the Blackmon draft pick and think this kid is ready to step in and shine right away. LET’S GO!
These are just some examples of how I am trying to turn those negative camp thoughts into a positive stream of light. I love the RB situation and think these kids are going to be outstanding in this system. I think the OL will shock many fans especially Ingram. I think this defense is going to be exciting to watch and I can’t wait for the closeups of our opponents looking like they have now idea where this storm came from and not knowing what to do about it.
So here I am. Smiling. Excited. I can’t wait to scour for camp videos every day and eventually preseason games. This is going to be fun. This is going to be positively purple.
Alas, I wanted to shed those thoughts of dread and instead turn them the glass being half full. “There we go giving up the lead” turned into “It’s okay, the offense will get it back”. Failures of the past moment like “How are we stalling on their side of the field” became a positive for a future moment like “It’s ok. Joseph will get us points. Next time”.
For the most part it worked. In emphasizing more positive thoughts, more positive things happened. We set a record for 4th quarter comebacks. That leaky defense would suddenly find the compound when we needed it most to stuff an offense that had just spent the entire game moving up and down the field with ease. Field goals went through the uprights instead of wide left. Receivers made that catch. The defense stuffed that 4th and 1. It was AMAZING!
But it’s a long, long season. At the end of the day, I was worn out. My ability to stay more positive became harder and harder to find and maintain. Apparently, leaving behind 5 decades of disappointment is harder than I could ever imagine. Slowly as the season progressed, I found it more difficult to eventually the wildcard game is honestly a blur. I felt defeated before the game began. I failed. Honestly, it’s taken this long for me to get over it and to want to write something.
Every page gets turned. A new season has dawned and I feel it’s time to get going. It’s time to start reviewing this roster I. This training camp and try to did the positive gain. It’s there. It exists. You just have to be willing to brush aside those negative thoughts and start finding the light. Here are some example that I am thinking of.
Old Me: “What’s up with Cine and Booth? What a waste of picks.”
New Me: They’re kids. They are learning their 2nd defense in 2 years. They are both coming off injuries. I am NOT ready to write them off. They have a lot to contribute even if it’s mostly on special teams. I believe in them and when they get on the field, as they eventually will because of merit or injuries, I will have the utmost faith that they will produce. LET’S GO!
Old Me: “We really need Hunter or this defense will be crap”.
New Me: “Whatever happens with Hunter happens. If they sign him, great. If they don’t, then we’ll have some draft capital for 2024. I have faith ina combination of Woonum and Jones. Plus I believe there will be some surprises by name we’ve never heard of. I think Davenport is ready to have his best season. LETS GO!
Old Me: “The young corners are going to get toasted all season”
New Me: “I LOVE THIS CORNER ROOM! Murphy will have his best season as a leader. I loved Evans last year and can’t wait to watch him every Sunday. Williams will be perfect for this system. I love the Blackmon draft pick and think this kid is ready to step in and shine right away. LET’S GO!
These are just some examples of how I am trying to turn those negative camp thoughts into a positive stream of light. I love the RB situation and think these kids are going to be outstanding in this system. I think the OL will shock many fans especially Ingram. I think this defense is going to be exciting to watch and I can’t wait for the closeups of our opponents looking like they have now idea where this storm came from and not knowing what to do about it.
So here I am. Smiling. Excited. I can’t wait to scour for camp videos every day and eventually preseason games. This is going to be fun. This is going to be positively purple.
... and neither is this Chris guy.