Lessons from My Daughter's Soccer Team

My daughter's under-eight soccer team lost every single game this season. Every one. They scored two goals all year, one of which was an own goal by the other team.

And yet. They were the happiest team on the field, every week. They cheered for each other when someone kicked the ball, any direction. They made up a team dance and performed it before every game. They brought orange slices for the other team too, "to be nice."

At the end-of-season party, the coach gave every girl an award. "Best Cartwheel." "Most Enthusiastic Hugger." "Fastest Runner Toward the Snacks." My daughter got "Best Cheerleader for Teammates."

She keeps the little plastic trophy on her nightstand. She says she can't wait for next season. She doesn't remember that they lost. I'm not going to remind her.