The Vancouver Canucks have just won a challenging round against the Chicago Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup playoffs and the city has been abuzz with the excitement of the games. Everywhere you look someone is wearing a Canucks jersey, complete strangers are discussing the games, and Canucks flags are flying on top of buildings and from many car windows. I even saw a model of Roberto Luongo, the Canucks goalie, in full goalie regalia mounted in front of a net on top of a car driving around the city.

I love hockey and it’s fun to see the team spirit around the city. Sports, whether you are playing or watching, have much to teach about life and manners –working together as a team, hard work and perseverance, giving your best no matter how dire the circumstance, winning – and losing – with grace, and most of all, good sportsmanship.

It’s great to show your team spirit: cheer on your team, wear the jersey, and get excited when they’re doing well, but it is also important to keep things in perspective and not lose our heads when we lose a game. In life, not everyone will always be on your team and you won’t always be on the winning team, and that’s okay. What’s not okay is to denigrate people on the opposing team or to be physically or verbally aggressive. Even if your team doesn’t win, rejoice in the good fortune of those who do and appreciate the skill of others – even the players on the other team.  Losing is disappointing, but don’t let your own disappointment overwhelm the situation and ruin the fun for everyone.

Go Canucks Go!