Soccer and Life

Today was the girls second to last soccer game. They play on a local team and Alex is their coach. They have been doing really well all season but today they lost 7-0. As I sat around listening to them after the game I had to laugh. They were exclaiming very loudly "they got seven and we had ZERO...can you believe it ZERO". While most of the kids were fairly unfazed by it all one little boy was taking it very hard. Alex sat on the grass and talked to him about it, listening to his feelings and reassuring him that the most important things was that he did his best and had fun. He seemed a bit bolstered by this but not totally convinced of the merits of Alex's pep talk.

I can relate to that...sometimes when life beats me up 7-0 I am more than a little cranky. And it helps a little to know that I tried hard but in reality I still feel like road kill. I feel flattened and fatigued and discouraged...probably how the little boy felt to a certain extent. Lucy, who is usually pumped up after a soccer game (read: win) fell asleep on the way to the waterfront...I could tell the game had worn her out rather than invigorate her.

Losing is hard work! What is important is learning how to lose gracefully and not to let losing take the wind out of your sails for too long...and I hope that all of those kids today have already forgotten about the beating they took and are looking forward to next week!