Dear Nathan...

I know how disappointed you are in your beloved hockey team. Although I'm not sure why. They haven't changed one little bit. Your expectations of them have changed because of their phenomenal regular season. You allowed your hopes to rise, and now they're dashed because the Sharks are performing in the post season the way they always have.

Sure, the Stanley Cup is the holy grail of hockey, blah, blah, blah, but you know what? It doesn't take any character to be the fan of a winning team. Character is the holy grail of life, and your Sharks are teaching you character in a big, big way. Commitment. Are you going to stick with them through their highs and lows, or are you going to jam when the going gets tough? Patience. Are you demanding the Stanley Cup this year or are you willing to wait it out? Perfection takes time. Are you willing to wait? Contentment. Are you willing to be happy with what they've already given you this year? Or are you going to demand more before you can be happy? Resilience. How quickly can you bounce back from a disappointment? There are more, and I'm sure you can think of them yourself...

Hockey isn't life. But being a hockey fan sure can teach you great life lessons. Keep your eyes on the real prize, son, and don't let these playoffs get you down. Because you know what? Things are going your way...

Love,
Mom