What We Can Learn from Peyton Manning

Okay, I'll be honest. I really didn't have a dog in the fight in this year's Superbowl. Stephen and I tend to root for players we like versus teams, if that makes sense. (I guess if we had to pick a team, we'd choose the Niners or Patriots. We like the coaches and many of the players.)

But we like Mr. Manning a lot, no matter which team he's taking to the Bowl.

Here's why:

When asked this morning by a reporter if he was embarrassed by his team's performance last night, he said, "It's not embarrassing at all. I'll never use that word. There's a lot of professional football players in that room, that locker room, who put a lot of effort into being here and playing in that game. The word 'embarrassing' is an insulting word to tell you the truth."

It got me to thinking. How easy is would it have been for him to have said, "Yes. I'm ashamed. We played terribly and I knew we were sunk from that first bad snap."

Instead, he stood up for his team, his friends. He wasn't letting anyone pick on his family. I guarantee you that he didn't enjoy the outcome of that game or the numbers on that scoreboard. But instead of cursing and yelling and acting fed up, he put on a brave face and stood up for the guys he calls teammates.

It made me take a closer look at how I react when things don't go my way. Do I place blame on others to save face or, like Peyton, do I let those around me know that, no matter what, I'm proud of them? 

I think I'll choose to be like Peyton. 

Food for thought as we kick this week off...

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P.S. - Props to the Seahawks for coming out to "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve. LOVED IT. Oh, and a Superbowl trophy well-deserved!!

P.P.S. - I was elated to see that Red Hot Chili Peppers's Anthony Kiedis is still alive. After the substances that the man has probably ingested during his lifetime, I'm in awe. Californication blared on my CD player (remember those?) in high school 24/7 and it was just dandy to see those guys on the stage again. Thanks for keep real music alive, boys. 

(And I kind of loved the collab with Bruno Mars. Two very good acts, in my opinion.)