Remember Who You Are
Except you, Chargers fans
I’ve learned many hard lessons on the quest for enlightenment.
Some are more significant than others, but accepting wisdom itself has proven to be one of the most essential.
See, wisdom either graciously reinforces what you’ve already been doing or rudely challenges you to reconsider your current behavior, habits, and tendencies. It challenges what you think you know. Who you think you are.
And what can be better than that? I mean, who doesn’t love learning something new?
I love learning. I’ve very much enjoyed my turbulent journey towards growth and maturity, and I look forward to working to improve every single day. It’s a guaranteed formula for success, right? If you continuously apply everything you learn every single day, you will ultimately uncover your very best self. And your very best self cannot fail.
It’s that simple. It’s what everyone’s been telling you all along. Whaddayaknow?
It’s oh-so-obvious.
But see, the catch is that as we humans evolve, we often experience a fleshly rebellion against the challenges in front of us. Why should I stop doing what I’m doing? Why should I change my ways just because everyone says I should? My failures are common knowledge, apparently, but even if the consensus wisdom is true, it’s not so easy to accept it. The fool despises wisdom and instruction. And boy, have I been a fool.
Even when it’s all laid out for me on a red carpet—it’s hard to accept it.
It’s even harder to apply it.
And even when you apply it and try to change your ways for the better, you can sometimes lose sight of yourself.
When you realize that what you’ve been doing is wrong, and how you’ve been doing it is wrong, and that you’re doing it all backward, it can be dreadful to accept. And when you finally accept it, no matter how drastic the change may be, you cannot lose sight of who you truly are.
That can’t be wise, can it? You can’t forget who you are. And no, not that old loser who habitually makes every mistake in the book. He can go. But you can’t lose touch with that brilliant living soul that lies beneath—the real you.
See, you must remember that inner dog that has fought this far to live and survive and continues pushing forward every single day. You cannot lose sight of who God made you on your quest for enlightenment.
Remember who you are, young Simba.
This season Justin Herbert has had the pleasure of playing under coach Jim Harbaugh. The Los Angeles Chargers have been blessed with their best chance to win… ever. They have the Defense, the QB, and the coach. The magic trifecta. This season has been a massive cultural overhaul and the newly ferocious Chargers are built to win. Now.
How did this happen?
Justin Herbert embraced the cultural change, the new leadership, the new playbook, and the new style of football. Or the old style of football, rather, where you run the ball, play excellent D, and don’t turn the ball over. That wins. It always has, and it always will. Right?
But what if you have a gun-slinging, laser-accurate beast of a Quarterback who can will you to victory with his arm? What do you do then? When the wisdom of an experienced coach like Harbaugh collides with the god-given talents of Justin Herbert? The success of the Chargers this season will be a direct result of their ability to find that perfect balance.
If Justin can do all the things that Coach Harbaugh wants to execute but also make that precious risky throw late in the game, on 3rd down when it matters most… he can win the Super Bowl. The Los Angeles Chargers can win the Super Bowl.
Justin must apply his newfound wisdom to give his team the best chance to win while staying true to his nature and instinct as a Quarterback. That’s his best shot at becoming a champion.
That’s how you can become a champion too. By applying your best fantasy football skills and managing with your own style. Whether you connive and trade your way to victory. Or whether you scavenge the bleak depths of the waiver wire every single week. Even if you just auto-picked your draft and auto-start your lineup every week and let AI do all the work.
Whoever you are as a manager, you must be exactly that. The best version of that. But you must also play the hand you're dealt. Okay, so you don’t have the team this year to be a true contender. Your draft went to hell in a handbasket, and you have no good players. Well, you do, but they aren’t playing like it, are they? It’s not your fault.
What is your fault, is starting Mahomes again and again when you have Bo Nix on your bench. It’s starting Mark Andrews every week when Hunter Henry and Jonnu Smith are out there. It’s continuing to play the cursed Deebo Samuel instead of the blessed Juaun Jennings. See, you have to look closely at your team, accept what you have, and move forward. Adapt to its strengths, and apply your strongest strategy to optimize your lineup.
That’s it. That’s the game. And under these circumstances, any of us can win! Well, not everyone. Some of your teams suck, and it is all your fault, and you will face the humiliation that comes with it. Justifiably so. But alas. There’s always next year. There’s always next time.
Next time you have your chance in fantasy football or life, you must accept the hand you’re dealt and maximize your potential. You got this.
You’re that dude.
Don’t ever forget who you are.
That’s the hard part.
That’s the best part!
See, life isn’t Hakuna Matata. It’s remembering who you are. It’s being who you’re supposed to be. What more can you ask for?
It’s not about legacy.
Legacy is just another word for Ego.
And Legacy doesn’t mean nothing. Right, Champ?
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