England's World Cup Exit and Me

Posted by on Jul 7, 2010 in exploring, Uncategorized, work | 2 comments

England's World Cup Exit and Me
I promised not to do it but I got all excited again about the World Cup. It kind of crept up on me, I could feel the excitement building, especially as I started to see the fans gathering in South Africa, saw the great venues like Jo’burg’s Soccer City come together (it’s the one that looks like a kalabash (- sp? link?) if you’re wondering).
As the competition started and the horns started to blow, I posted on my other blog and with friends on facebook about England (my team) and their chances. The way the team played is one thing but I’m writing about the way I feel now. What it feels like when something happens and you are involved, whether you like it or not.
So I’m not writing about disappointment, I’m writing about involvement, about being involved. Anything that makes you feel the highs and the lows, you’re already involved with. If your team wins, try taking that smile off your face. Go looking for an unhappy Nederlander right now, try to find someone dressed head-to-toe in orange who doesn’t have a smile on their face. Search for a happy Uruguayan, you’ll still find plenty but not as many as were around last week. Being a fan of football or a fan of these two teams isn’t the be all and end all. There’s plenty more to make us happy, to make us sad and everything else in between. For the disappointed, there will be other tournaments and new hopes in the future. For the elated, watch them smile and imagine yourself in their place. Some of it rubs off, I know.
Whenever you’re involved, there’s a high and a low in your future for sure. It gives you hope when you need it and keeps your feet on the ground when things are going your way. As an England fan & football fan there’s still plenty for me to see in the last few games of this World Cup and I’m looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to the next game, the next tournament and the next opportunity for the team I support to do what they can. I’m involved and I don’t want it any other way.

I promised not to get drawn in but this football World Cup got me hooked all the same.

It crept up on me. I could feel the excitement building as exciting new places like Jo’burg’s Soccer City came together and fans from all over started gathering in South Africa (Soccer City Stadium is the one that looks like an African calabash cup/pot in case you were wondering).

As the football started, I wrote and added World Cup pictures to my other blog, also chatting with friends and on facebook about England (my team) and their chances.

Sadly 🙁 what happened to England is no secret but I’m writing about the way I feel now and what it feels like to be involved.

My disappointment didn’t last, but my involvement does.

We feel the highs and the lows whenever we’re involved.

If something good happens, try taking the smile off your face. Find me an unhappy Dutch football fan right now! I challenge you to find someone dressed head-to-toe in orange without a smile on their face between now and Sunday. Come back and tell me how you get on! Oh, and while you’re out there looking, try to spot a happy Uruguayan. OK, there will be some but not as many as there were last week. Just like there weren’t too many happy England fans a week or so ago (Uruguay supporters, I’m with you today!).

But being a football fan isn’t everything. There’s plenty more in life to make us happy, sad and everything else in between. When you’re involved, whatever you are involved with, there’ll be highs and lows in the future that’s for sure. Giving you hope when you need it most and keeping your feet on the ground when things go your way.

As an England fan and a football fan there’s still plenty I’m looking forward to in the last few games of this World Cup but I’m also looking forward to the next England game, the next tournament and the next opportunity for my team to show what they can do.

I’m involved and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Don’t worry, he didn’t stay unhappy for long.
[Image courtesy of Axel Bührmann on Flickr]

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2 Comments

  1. Gavin Drew | July 7, 2010

    Well as we all know Paul is an Arsenal supporter, so normally the only time he gets to cheer on English players is at International level!!! “But seriously folks”, as a Spurs supporter you get used to highs and lows ( more lows) and also dreaming of past glories and great players! Bit like England? Anywho, like he says, life or sport, get involved, keep your feet on the ground, allow a few dreams, but mostly have hope and give it yer all! Dr. Drew.

    Reply
  2. Paul | July 8, 2010

    True Dr Drew, but the up-side is, at least one Arsenal player will lift the World Cup this Sunday 😉
    In all seriousness, I wanted to say something about involvement because there’s no pleasure to be had sitting on the sidelines and wallowing in disappointment.
    Whether it’s sport, work, friends or anything else large or small, if it means something to you, admit you’re involved and get behind it!

    Reply

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