But I don’t think I let it affect “real life”, no.

If the Cubs blow a big game, I tend to have a little bit shorter temper. I don’t get angry or upset really, but I do have a slightly shorter fuse if things in my real life start going bad.

…and had no concept of things like world views, philosophy, etc., and so, I’d have to say, that it was the Cubs who shaped ME (in certain ways at least).

They certainly helped with the development of values like hope and loyalty. They also taught me how to deal with pain because, as we all know, pain is a big part of Cubs fandom.

Do they affect my life? Of course they do. After a win, my mood always feels a little bit lighter. I sleep better at night and I wake up happier in the morning. Conversely, a tough loss will put me in a mini funk for awhile.

Do I need the Cubs to be happy? Not at all. I have plenty of family members and good friends who take care of those needs. But I’d be lying if I said that the Cubs don’t help.

Jim Langford wrote something like “When you’re waiting in a long line or on the phone for a customer service rep be patient and forgiving. Remember you’ve been waiting your whole life for something much more important. You’ve been waiting for a pennant”

I’m fiercely loyal almost to a fault. I tend to look at things as a whole picture. I’m very patient and realize things take time. I don’t know if that is part of being a Cubs fan.

of my life….when you do all you can to watch/listen to all 162 of their games it def has some outlook on your life…especially this team…ive never seen a team this good and this fun to watch since ive been alive its truly amazing…another thing the cubs affect is if i watch sportscenter or not haha..if they win then i do if they lose then i cant because i know those highlights will show up sumwhere in the show lol

… as a Cub fan has certainly been an essential element of who I am. My character, personality and disposition are all firmly grounded in growing up in Chicago. Loyalty to family, friends and what I believe in defines me. Hope is not a childish expectation of a guaranteed positive outcome but a mature understanding that unwavering allegiance, even in the face of great adversity, is in and of itself, worthwhile.

I know who I am: past, present, future and always a Cubs fan. You can take the boy out of Chicago but never take Chicago out of the boy ….

… three years ago. Click there — it’s always on the right sidebar. I reopened comments on that post if you want to add yours.

For how many of us if a friend of ours were to be telling someone about us to someone we didn’t know after the essentials like married, kids the first thing they say is “He/She is a big Cubs fan?”

I’ve been through a lot of health issues this season and the Cubs have certainly helped me this year. Weird thing is another tough time for me healthwise coincided with the 85 Bears.

has affected my life in many ways. I am humble in victory and defeat and never take for granted when something great happens. Lord knows that as Cubs fans we have suffered enough defeat to really enjoy and appreciate victories. There are a lot of references to being optimistic when it comes to the Cubs. I like to call myself the optimistic pessimist. I am not destroyed in bad times, as I am ready for them, and I am always extremely happy when something better ends up happening.

Baseball has always been a huge part of my summers and some of my fondest memories. When I listen to a game on the radio I am instantly transported back to being 8 years old helping my dad in the yard with the game crackling from the radio in the garage. We would talk baseball and spend really quality time together that I don’t think would stick out so much in memories if it hadn’t been for the Cubs.

My husband and I are married because we spent a wonderful weekend together almost 3 yrs ago that included a fabulous mid September Cubs win against the Reds. In fact, this is why we are going to the Sept 19th game for our 3 yr anniversary. Would we have ended up getting married anyways? Probably, but we both know that was the turning point in our relationship that helped us take the leap.

So yes, absolutely the Cubs have helped shape my life!

Your Brain on Cubs

in 1969 over Memorial Day weekend. it was a DH, back when they still scheduled them, in fact i think both games went into extra innings. I still have the cubs uniform i wore on that day. I now have my 4 year old daughter wearing it for dress up.

I remember riding on my bike as a kid listening to the games and trying to figure out how many games in a row we needed to win to get back in the race.

Playing wiffle ball in the yard with the radio going acting out what i was hearing.

Wishing that i would be signed out of high school and college by the cubs, i remember talking to white sox scout on day and about being sick to stomach thinking i might get drafted by the sox, however all the dreams died when i threw out my shoulder pitching. Thats was always the issue with playing up north in the spring when its cold and your throwing both games of a double header.

The thing that is has really taught me is that everyday is a new start. No matter how bad today might have been, you can go out tomorrow and make the play to win the game. Even when it seemed like life was like a 100 loss season, there was always next year, a clean slate. Next thing you know you have run of a winning streak, things turned and low and behold you in the playoffs. But no matter how good you season may have been there is always room for improvement.

Yep being a cub fan is hard, you open yourself up for a lot of criticisms and joking from those you just dont get it. But in the end, one day, we will stand on the peak of the baseball world along side of all the others that claim to be “true fans” knowing that you were there along.

Yes my friends, it will come, one day soon and we well all be say that were truely part of something special, something that only we can fully understand and appreciate.

Long live our cubs, past ,present and future and all those who cheer for us!

… back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, when I was in junior high/high school. I hated school anyway. I just had a greater desire, more times than not, to skip school when the Cubs were on WGN. This didn’t go on during the full school semester, obviously, but it did during spring and fall. I was a miserable kid and had a lot of problems, which school added too, but watching the Cubs took me away from all of that for a few hours or so. Anyway, I ended up dropping out of school…. etc etc…Eventually, I grew up, got my GED, college, and will graduate with an MA in May. While the Cubs aren’t my life anymore, I love them dearly, but eventually, I had to grow up.

Still… I did skip out on some stuff to make sure I watched the Playoffs in ’03. I never said I was perfect…