It’s Not Over Til It’s Over

Welcome back football fans! As we slide into fall and Sundays are filled with channel flipping games, I am reminded of something from my childhood. 

Growing up outside of Pittsburgh in a sports-obsessed household, the Steelers were an autumnal weekend ritual. My oldest brother would put ESPN on in the morning while we were getting ready for school and many dinners were punctuated by Pardon the Interruption. 

But, being the youngest and not always having a full grasp of the game in my early years, I would sometimes see the clock tick down with 10 seconds left and a three possession difference and wonder why suddenly the team was storming the field. My little Type A brain was strong even then. How can do they do that! There’s still 10 seconds left!

And then, I’d shout it’s not over til it’s over! the “r” sound getting lost in my early aged impediment.

Up until the clock ran out, I was waiting for a miracle. Even when it was obvious that all hope was lost, I would see a score of 21-3 and be convinced that—with 6 seconds to spare—it was still possible for the underdog. 

I can’t explain why this lodged in my brain other than seeing things very black and white. The game still has time left in it. But I can’t help but wonder if that’s not become something I feel deeply in my bones as an adult in a more practical, sustainable, I-can-do-anything-I-set-my-mind-to way. 

Last week, my partner and I were watching the end of the tight Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons game as he needed Tampa Bay to come out on top to squeak through week 1 of my family’s NFL Survivor Pool. In the final seconds of the game, I turned to congratulate him on the win when he nodded to the dwindling clock. It’s not over til it’s over, he smiled.

There’s something sweet and innocent about it. About believing that a game that is objectively over can somehow be salvaged. But what about when we aren’t talking about football games. 

Have we told ourselves that a relationship is beyond repair? Have we told ourselves that a dream has died? Have we given up on the career we always wanted to pursue? And… is it really out of the realm of possibility now? Is it over?

Or, if you’re living, breathing, moving, waking, is it not totally over? Is there some small, radical chance that it could still be in play? And what would it look like to act as if it were? 

It’s not over til it’s over but sometimes we tell ourselves it’s over for things that are still very much possible. 

What have you written off? 

Are you sure it’s impossible?

Are you really sure?

This week, may you remind yourself of the possibility.