Yes, it is all over. My introduction is passé; there is no need for Prozac and the only tears that were shed were tears of joy. Really? Think again. My introduction is as fresh as the snow that is falling as I look out my window. It is fresh because, believe it or not, each and every day we are playing some sort of a game. I believe that each day, from the moment we get up to the moment we go to bed, we are playing the game called “Life”. With dreams, goals and hopes in mind, we each rehearse, strategize and compete in our own little scenarios. We pray, cajole, push and pull, and at the end of the day, we hope to come out on top. Perhaps not every day is a Super Bowl day, but rest assured, every day counts.

Sunday night, as the game was progressing, and as I was watching MY crowd, I could not help but take a moment to reflect. There we were, twenty some bodies, yelling and screaming I might add, shoved into a game room at a friend’s house, hovering in front of a television. How barbaric!

As the evening progressed I watched the doubt seep in. Could we hold on? Were we strong enough? What if we were going to lose? How depressing for Jerome Bettis if we lose. The worry, the doubt, the “when will the other shoe drop?” attitude was present and thick. What was even more disturbing was that people were more attached to their doubt than the prospect of winning.

We humans are so complicated. Rather than fantasizing in a positive way, we protect our fragile egos and emotions by preparing for the worst. I guess it is less painful if you know the disappointment is coming. We hide in the shadows of our own successes because we might fail. We give more attention to the possibilities of being laughed at, hurt or rejected. Why, my friends, why? Is that really worth playing small or even giving up? Failure is part of success and success is part of failure. Neither is possible without the other. Do we need to protect our egos that badly?

I believe the Steelers were wrestling with this very problem on and off the field last night. When they believed that they were going to be the champions, they played like champions. Their positive attitude and fantasies carried them through.

So, listen up, because here comes the important part of this newsletter: If you want to be a winner, you will need to keep your fantasies positive; because, every prediction of the future is nothing but a fantasy - so we might as well win in our OWN fantasies. Let me say this in a different way. If you want to accomplish a difficult task, you need to muster up your courage and go for it – because going for it is the only viable option we have.

Enough about football. What are you going to do to make your goals, dreams and hopes come true? When are you going to have your own Super Bowl? Don’t wait too long. Each step requires courage; but you only need five seconds of courage at a time to take the next step.

“That old law about ’an eye for an eye‘ leaves everybody blind”

Martin Luther King

What courageous action are you going to take to be your own hero? Have a difficult discussion, sign up for school, forgive a family member or an old friend, ask someone out?

Whatever it is, do it this week, or within 24 hours, if that’s possible.

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. "

Albert Einstein

Cell phone companies are charging $1 or more for 411 information calls. When you need to call 411/information option, simply dial 1-800-Free 411 or 1-800 373-3411 without incurring a charge. You will have to pay for the minutes required to make the call. Thanks, Judith!