Arsenal playing like lumps is not serious
My brother-in-law is a wise man. He is also intelligent (a Mensa member), but it is his wisdom that has always impressed me.
He imparts that wisdom often. Like me, he has three daughters and they are forever approaching him with some problem or another. On one of those occasions, I was within earshot and what he told his daughter with the biggestproblem-in-the-history-of-problems – as they always are – will remain with me forever.
He told her the “lump” theory. I have applied it numerous times since, especially with my own daughters, and I’m sure will do many more times in my remaining years.
“There are three types of lumps,” he told his distressed offspring.
“There is the lump in the porridge, the lump in the throat and the lump in the breast.
“Now, the lump in the porridge is not that serious. It can be removed or you can make another pot of porridge and make sure that one is lump-free.
“The lump in the throat is slightly more serious. If you have a lump in your throat, you have been emotionally affected by something and the hurt will remain @GuyHawthorne for a while.
“But the lump in the breast ... now that is serious. You will have to have it checked out by a specialist to rule out the possibility of cancer.
“If it is cancerous, you will have to have it removed and then undergo long-term treatment to prevent it from returning.
“So, this problem of yours, which ‘lump’ is it?”
I thought about this last Sunday as I watched Arsenal, under new manager Unai Emery and with a host of fresh faces in their line-up, slump to a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City.
Although the result was not that surprising to me – City won the English Premier League at a canter last season and have since significantly strengthened their squad – I was upset. This is a huge problem, I thought, and we could be in trouble this season.
But then I thought about the extent of the problem. Once I did this, I realised it was a “lump in the porridge” one. And I felt so much better for it.
Suddenly, in the big scheme of things, Arsenal’s defeat was of little significance, as were their prospects for the remainder of the season.
You see, this brother-in-law and his wife, my sister, are both dealing with “lumps” of their own. And theirs are of the “lump in the breast” variety.
I love them both very much and they are both in my thoughts for much of the time.
Arsenal’s defeat temporarily deflected my attention and it was only after I recalled his “lump” theory that I could again focus on what is really important in life.
Perspective, people. It’s all about perspective.