Don't Outsource Your Identity To A Scoreboard
Canada lost. You didn't.
Canada lost. More accurately — their men’s and women’s hockey teams lost..
And I’m feeling it.
This one’s hard, guys. I was sitting there watching the game just like you, saw Makar stumble after McDavid tried to end it and watched the odd-man rush develop. My heart sank when the twine snapped. It was over. Just like that…
Yep. I felt it alright.
That tight chest.
That national pride hit.
That “we” feeling.
And… here’s the reminder:
We didn’t* lose.
They did.
We didn’t* take a shot.
We didn’t* miss a pass.
Or two gaping 6x4’s…
Or 8 men on the ice for USA… what a blown call…
And we certainly didn’t* turn over the puck.
We watched. And that was easily the best hockey I’ve ever watched.
So what’s that worth? There’s gotta be something there…
Somewhere along the way, especially in this country, we started fusing our identity to the jersey. When the team wins, we feel elevated. When the team loses, we feel diminished.
That’s a heavy thing to carry.
Let players carry their win.
Let players carry their loss.
Carry your own life.
It had nothing to do with politics.
Nothing to do with national worth.
Nothing to do with who we are as people. As Canadians.
It was a game.
A brutal, beautiful, high-pressure game.
You can sit in the well and spiral it into something bigger.
Or you can let it be what it is.
A wake-up.
Competition is tight at the top.
Margins are thin.
Outcomes swing.
That’s sport.
That’s business.
That’s life.
We knew it would come down to inches anyway.
So lift some weights.
Go for a skate.
Call a friend.
Build something.
Remember why we play games.
Joy.
Challenge.
Community. It was a nice touch from the Americans with the Johnny Hockey lap… congrats boys, well deserved.
Today, I am reminded of a phrase I often use in my coaching practice, seems fitting here…
“It happened.”
And it’s okay.
Get ‘em next time.
With love, boys. Thanks for playing your asses off.
- M