There’s a mindset that’s instilled in ice hockey players which I feel should accompany the social-emotional growth of early childhood education. It stems from a larger perspective on the game itself, and on life. With the right coaching, we can train our brains to see the big picture.
I’m talking about the art of voluntary self-sacrifice. It requires you to be present and put others before you. Ice hockey is known for this, as are most heavy-contact team-sports.
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Now I realize that this is a fine line, so let me try to clarify.
In ice hockey, the mentality is: do whatever you can for the greater good of the team. Do anything you can to help your squad come out on top with the win. To put the collective before yourself.
This may include using your body to block a shot, riding the pine as a 4th line filler, or playing through an injury (if capable). Even the backup goalie, who watches from the bench the whole game, helps out by opening the door for players coming off the ice. A voluntary self-sacrifice.
“When you pull on that jersey, the name on the front is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back.” - Herb Brooks, head-coach of the gold-medal winning 1980 Men’s USA hockey team
Everyone plays a role and everyone makes sacrifices for the cause. (In the case of ice hockey, it’s getting to the playoffs or winning the championship, Lord Stanley.) For those of you who’re Mr. Robot fans, the Dark Army is known for this mentality, as well. They put the cause before their own lives.
However, in life and society, it seems we’ve adopted an opposing mindset. This “Me-First Mindset.” I believe it is most prevalent in the American lifestyle, but I’m sure it can be observed around the globe at various pathological levels.
I’m no social scientist. I don’t know where this stems from or how it came about so predominantly into our habits and culture. Could be survival instincts or it could be ego. But what I do know is that it can be a cancer to the community. And it certainly doesn’t help that the country’s leader is promoting such behavior so openly.
In speaking from my experience as a hockey player and coach, I can tell you that this self-sacrificing mindset promotes family and growth. It stimulates a higher understanding of what it means to be a part of something bigger. To have a purpose beyond our own ego.
It’s a strange form of altruism. Selflessness at the core levels of sentience. I feel it every time I lace up my skates and every September before starting the school year.
With a little adjustment, we can learn to put in just a little bit more to help the bettering of our human existence. We can develop a sense of empathy meant for the greater good.
But it isn’t something we can just start doing. It takes time. Effort. An understanding of what we truly are. A consistent mindfulness of what we mean to each other. Something that can be instilled from a young age.
I guess what I'm trying to convey is that we must learn to help others in order to truly help ourselves. Pucks or no pucks.
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