Working from home the last couple of days I’ve had ESPN on in the background. As a result, I’ve seen a number of snippets of interviews with some of the Niners and the head coach, Kyle Shanahan. If you don’t know, the Forty-Niners lost the Super Bowl® Sunday evening.

In these interviews, the Niners all seem pretty dejected. There are no smiles, no jokes, no laughter. Sadness and disappointment are the dominant emotions.

But why? Why are they so sad? So disappointed? Because they LOST as Super Bowl®?

Hey Niners, think about this. I’ve never even been to a Super Bowl®! I would love to just attend a Super Bowl®! Any Super Bowl®. I don’t even care who is playing. But you guys got to PLAY in a Super Bowl®! And you were very well compensated.

Think about all the other fellows in the NFL® who didn’t get to play in the Super Bowl® this year, and have never played in a Super Bowl®. Some of you all have played in multiple Super Bowls®. Think about all the guys who got cut from their teams and didn’t even get to play in the NFL®. They would’ve gladly traded places with you I bet.

It’s so hard to be thankful for what you have. You have to blind yourself to anything out there that you don’t have. As soon as you realize there’s something better than what you have, you have to have it, and the one you have is crap!

That’s why they keep coming out with new cell phones, cars, laundry detergents, and razors. Until you saw that TV commercial on SportsCenter® you didn’t even realize you needed a new moisturizing body lotion.

That reminds me. No wonder it’s so hard for people to lose weight. If you watch much TV you’re going to be bombarded with ads featuring the most delicious food you ever saw. You know the food they sell at Wendy’s®, Taco Bell®, and Chipotle® isn’t near as delectable as they make it look, but there you go, GrubHub’ing® a Dave’s Double and a Frosty®.

How much of our sadness and disappointment is based on our perception versus our actual need?

I have decided that if I ever get to go to a Super Bowl® I’m going to be nothing but thankful. Even if my team loses. Even if I have a bad seat. Even if the half-time show is Taylor Swift. No matter what, I’m going to appreciate just being there.