The Portuguese love soccer. Children, teenagers, and adults pass around soccer balls in parks and on the sidewalks. My coworkers discuss their favorite club teams, praise their best players or criticize their coaches on a daily basis. It seems as though every other person I walk by wears a Ronaldo jersey. In normal times, the sport is a part of Portuguese daily life, a part of their pride, a part of their culture. But during the World Cup, which began about a month ago, soccer became even more.

The streets were flooded with flags, jerseys, and advertisements for the Portuguese National Team. Thousands of people gathered in the square of Terreiro do Paco to watch games live at the Fan Stage (a massive outdoor TV in downtown Lisbon streaming every World Cup game). Restaurants and bars filled with cheering and shouting nearly every night, not just when Portugal played. My colleagues at work told me about the big watch parties they host for their friends and families; even the boss leaves work early on game day.

It’s not all cheers and excitement; there is plenty of stress as well. When Portugal tied with D.R. Congo in their first game, many of the locals were despairing, as though they had already lost the World Cup. Even as Portugal escaped Croatia in the first knockout round of the tournament, many fans were skeptical. With one of the best soccer players of all time in Christiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese have high expectations for success. Clinging to those expectations over the course of the World Cup, watching ups and downs, nail-biting moments game after game, created a chronic stress for many people in Portugal.

So, you can imagine how I felt watching Portugal’s loss to Spain live at the fan stage, surrounded by an ocean of red clothing and banners. It was an even match all throughout, just for Spain to score the first goal of the game in the final minutes. The energy and life completely drained out of the audience. There were shouts, curses, and groans; but mostly, there was silence. Shoulders slumped, heads hung low. So much despondence and despair, as the whole nation had their hopes of hoisting the world cup trophy ripped away from them.

I was nervous as I entered work the next day. Nervous everyone in the office would be in a bad mood, nervous that my coworkers would be antisocial and quiet as though they were in mourning. When the elevator doors opened to my floor, however, I heard laughter and banter. Surprised, I went to say hello and found myself greeted with smiles. I asked Tania and Sofia how they were in a good mood following the loss, and they just shrugged and said they’re over it; in four years Portugal will get another shot to win the World Cup.

I continued through the floor until I arrived at the office of the most passionate, most opinionated soccer fan of all my coworkers: Francisco. This is the same man who, before Portugal’s group-stage match against Uzbekistan, described himself as “terrified” (Portugal went on to win that game 5-0). I expected to see him in tears. Instead, beaming, Francisco exclaimed “Good morning, Matan! It is a good day”. I didn’t understand. I asked why, despite Portugal’s loss the day before, he was happy. He answered something along the lines of: “I was sad when we lost, of course, but I slept on it. Now that we’re out of the tournament, I don’t have to constantly worry about whether or not we will lose, I don’t have to sweat through all 90 minutes of a game. I can watch the remaining World Cup games, enjoy good football, and feel content with whatever happens”.

I’m young, but still I have felt my fair share of disappointments, losses, and other painful experiences. Like most people, I sometimes feel the urge to pity myself, to dwell on my hardships. I can’t count the amount of time I’ve wasted feeling hurt, sorry, or sad over something I couldn’t change. The Portuguese got outplayed in their favorite sport, a core part of their culture, for the world to see. Ronaldo, one of the best players to every touch a soccer ball and certainly the best to ever play for Portugal’s national team, lost his final game before retirement. A nation hungry for their first ever World Cup victory will have to wait a long four years to get another chance. But rather than letting their heartbreak persist for days, weeks, or months, the loyal fans rebounded quickly. They understand that moping about will do them no good; instead, they will make the most of Portugal’s loss by enjoying the remainder of the World Cup, stressing less, and feeling hopeful for victory in the coming World Cup.

Obviously, losing a sport game does not compare to the real obstacles and difficulties in life. But sometimes it takes the small, less serious moments to remind us how to handle the more challenging ones. Seeing how my coworkers picked themselves up after Portugal’s loss, how they reframed a negative experience into a positive one, reminded me. I think this experience will stick with me as I navigate life’s hardships, serving as a guide to help me move on and stay positive.