I have never been shy about my allegiance to my college alma mater, UCLA. As my wife can attest, I have a bunch of “gear” emblazoned with Bruin blue and gold that I will proudly wear any chance I get. Among other things, I have t-shirts, jerseys, pens, pencils, a game-day flag for the front porch, a UCLA cell phone cover and yes, even a UCLA Bruin golf bag. Yep, I am totally over-the-top about the boys from Westwood. I am in no way shy about who my favorite school is.
And here’s the best part – I live in the South! I am surrounded by folks from schools like Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn and all the gear that comes with them. Flying the colors for your team is really big around here but you don’t see many west coast teams represented in an area dominated by ACC and SEC teams. But I think they all appreciate the drive to proudly fly the colors and logos of your favorite school. Also, I think we can all relate to the fun of wearing your heart on your sleeve for your team.
People have such freedom in flying their school colors and showing team pride. You do realize the term “fan” is short for “fanatic”, and many people are completely, 100% fanatics when it comes to supporting their team. (I just heard my wife say, “You got that right!”) And some of these fans are very reserved and proper in most other areas of their life, but put in them in front of a TV during a football game with their biggest rival and it brings out the animal in them! They become another person, uninhibited, wildly enthusiastic and completely confident that their team is the absolute best.
So, why are most of us so shy about being that confident and expressive in every other area of our life? Where is all that fire the rest of the week? Why are we sheepish about expressing our dreams and going after them? Why won’t we display the colors of the person we aspire to be? Why are we so afraid of stepping out of the dull box most people are stuck in and find a more exciting box that gets us fired up about life?
In most places, it is more widely accepted that people would get wild and crazy for their team. It’s a common practice, so if you choose to step out in that way, you won’t be ridiculed for it – unless you go so far as to use body paint. That might be too far. And, no, I’ve never done that.
And, depending on where you live, it’s easy to find people who feel the same way about your team so you can quickly find acceptance and camaraderie. But when the game’s over, what about putting some of that passion into your work, your relationships and your dreams?
I understand that people find a high level of acceptance when you’re all rooting for the same team. But if you’re afraid that wearing your dreams and your values and your passions on your sleeve will not get you the same level of acceptance – you need to find a new team! You’re hanging around the wrong people. And believe me, if you start showing your personal colors that represent what is most true about you, the right people who support that choice will appear. I know from personal experience that when you drop the shyness and live your personal “team pride”, the right people who support that and enhance that will emerge. Your favorite team will appear to enable your growth and support your dream.
So, what I’m saying is show your colors, fly them all the time. Not just on game day! Throw away the shyness and live your dream. Wear your goals on your sleeve and proclaim for all to hear that you’re great and you’re going to make a difference in the world! Be loud, proud and stand out from the crowd! Go get ‘em!
And, of course — Go Bruins!
