Because we now live in a new world. Despite what the bitter echoes from outside of the organization and related fandom have tried to tell you after a few days of celebratory chatter, what the Cubs have managed to accomplish goes far beyond the 10 innings it took to capture Game 7 in Cleveland. It’s a historically significant event. As far as we know it, it’s a once-in-a-century event. And what it has done, even above the immediate elation that it provided for millions of people, is change our entire perception of the world as we understand it.

The 2016 Chicago Cubs and their postseason run had no shortage of opportunities to fall in with what was previously expected. And, in many cases, fans began to align themselves with the appropriate prediction. Game 4 against San Francisco. Game 3 against Los Angeles. Game 4 against Cleveland. Each of these had the opportunity to catapult the franchise and their rarely optimistic fans into the depths of their own emotions.

A 5–2 deficit in the ninth against the Giants and their even year nonsense in Game 4 had all the makings of a Game 5 disappointment. A 2–1 deficit against Los Angeles and their pair of lefties in Clayton Kershaw and Rich Hill had some wondering if they’d see the Cubs back at Wrigley this calendar year. And a 3–1 hole against a Cleveland team that just couldn’t find ways to lose looked almost insurmountable, given not only the Cubs’ own history, but the history of teams facing that situation with the prospect of road games ahead.

Yet, in each case, the Cubs team continued to battle back and defy what history has led us to expect. They took advantage of a shaky San Francisco bullpen. Their offense came alive against Kershaw. Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, and Kyle Hendricks came together, along with well-timed offensive boosts, to complete the comeback against the Tribe. And just when you thought the fates and the baseball gods had one more nasty surprise in store, as Aroldis Chapman surrendered a game-tying, two-run shot to Rajai Davis, this team again shot up a middle finger toward history.

These aren’t your dad’s Cubs. Or your grandpa’s Cubs. Or even your great-grandpa’s Cubs. Not anymore. This team has literally changed our understanding of the world and changed the perspective of an entire massive subculture of America.

The psychological ramifications of what this team has accomplished go beyond the field. Beyond the statistics. It’s an extreme emotional shift. Cubs fans have come to understand the universe in only one way: the way that ends in disappointment. They’ve faced massive emotional turmoil at the hands of their favorite ballclub. They’ve faced overwhelming ridicule from opposing fanbases all over the country. They’ve come to expect the worst in many facets of life that go beyond the diamond. Dramatic as it may sound, it’s hard to ignore that as a reality. How many people in the past hundred years have responded with pessimism in any life situation with “I’m used to it, I’m a Cubs fan.”?

But this team came together in the way that made that 108 year wait almost worth it. One of the most likable groups of people (for the most part) assembled to a 25-man roster, dominating the regular season in the way that they did, leaving no question about whether or not they deserved this status as world champions.

In doing so, they’ve changed our understanding and interpretation of how the world works. Optimism can be a thing now. Expectations are a thing again. Death and taxes are now back to life’s only certainties. Because the Cubs are World Series champions. You’ll excuse us if we enjoy this just a little bit longer.