Go Steelers!

Walking around the Upper West Side of Manhattan one day, shortly after moving to New York, I saw a man carrying a Pittsburgh Penguins gym bag. Touched by the familiar sight of home, I lit up and said, “Ah, Go Penguins!”

He said, “what?” I repeated myself. “Penguins; your gym bag!” He repeated himself, “what? Oh. I guess.” 

It was as awkward as it sounds. 

Since then, I’m more hesitant to share hometown pride. It depends on my mood and the environment. But there is nowhere I feel friendlier than in the park after a nice run which is where I was last Wednesday when I saw a man walking his dog. As I neared them, I saw the dog appeared to be wearing a Steelers sweater. 

Bolstered by the fact that three days prior the Steelers had beaten the Baltimore Ravens, clinching the AFC North Champion title and securing their spot in the playoffs, I ran a little closer to get a better look. That’s when I noticed the man’s winter jacket—a Steelers jacket.

Before my brain could catch up, I blurted out a “Go Steelers!” 

He went, “huh..” and for the briefest of seconds it was Penguins Gym Bag Man all over again. Until his brain seemed to catch up to his ears and he quickly followed with “yeah, go Steelers!”

“Go Steelers!!!” I said again with more enthusiasm as we both grinned with shared connection. And then he hit me with a final “Yeah!!!! GOOOOOOO STEELERS!!!!!!!!!,” enthusiasm likely not seen since the Immaculate Reception. 

It was wildly, dangerously, beautifully wholesome. I smiled the whole way home.

You may occasionally get burned by your actions. You may have an awkward moment like I did with Penguins Gym Bag Man or it may have more serious implications for a longer period of time. Lord knows I’ve touched fire.

But if you let that permanently change you—if you let that alter your nature—you never step out of the flame. And if you never step out of the flame, you never give yourself the opportunity to have wildly, dangerously, beautifully wholesome moments. 

Don’t let the reactions of others change your better nature. Don’t let that stop you from doing the thing. Because some day, you’ll be given the opportunity to try again. And it’s very important that you do. It’s very important that you let life surprise you with its goodness. 

And it’s very important that you never stop repping the home team. Go Steelers. Tomorrow night and always.