I’m a lifelong Cubs fan. Assuming you believe life starts at fourteen, which because I’m a YA writer,  that works for me. Yesterday was the last day of the regular season for 2009, and naturally, the Cubs lost.* This didn’t bother me because at the end of the season, when it’s clear that the players are only going to the World Series if they can score some tickets for a suite, Cubs Legend and radio announcer, Ron Santo starts telling great stories about his days as a player.

One of his recently told stories was about the time he had such a long hitting streak going that he’d tied the record for hits in consecutive games. If he could get one more hit in that day’s game, he would break the record. It was only about the seventh inning, but there weren’t lights at Wrigley Field in those days and it was starting to get dark. As he came up to the plate, hitless for the day, the umpire leaned in and said, “Hey, kid. It’s getting too dark to play and I’m calling this game after this inning, so you better get your hit now.”

And he did.

I like this story because when the pressure was on, he stayed focused and did what he had to do. I often say I am finished writing at 4pm no matter what time I start work because my brain switches off then. Over the summer, I found myself on deadlines several times that required me to work well past 4pm. I was surprised that after I pushed through and stifled that whiny voice that kept saying, “You’re useless this time of day” just how much work I was able to get done. Like Ron, I just had to focus and believe.

Another thing about being a Cubs fan that has served me well is the idea that some things are just out of my control. I can be disappointed in a loss (or a rejection), but there’s a new game tomorrow, and it’s a long season, so in baseball, publishing, and life, sometimes you just have to suck it up and move on.

It doesn’t hurt that we Cubs fans have been supplied with an everlasting mantra: Wait ’til next year!

While 2010 may not prove to be the year of the Cubs any more than 2009 (or any year since 1908) proved to be, I do know one thing…it’s gonna be great for me because this time when I say “wait ’til next year” I’m not just talking about the Cubs! I’m talking about the release of my book!

Patience is going to pay off for me, why not the Cubs?

*You are only allowed to make disparaging remarks about the Cubs after having served been a die-hard Cubs fan for a minimum of twenty years. Okay…ten.