What are we editing out of our life? How is editing serving you or not serving you?

Many years ago, today, I played my last college soccer game, in the finals of the national tournament, and it was one of the most beautiful experiences of sports, collaboration, and teamwork I have ever experienced. When I was a young person I was hyper-competitive and I squirmed when someone would say "it isn't about winning and losing it's how you play the game," because I wanted to win! My identity and self-worth depended on it. I definitely believed in good sportspersonship and appreciating opponents, but losing was devastating. Over time, and with the help of many amazing teammates and coaches, I loosened my grip, opened my heart, and discovered a new level of purpose and opportunity. What are the gifts of competition? What is more important than winning? How do you define success?

Dedicated to the 1999 University of Michigan Women's Club Soccer Team. "My love is your love" by Whitney Houston, we sang before every game. I love you! (My teammates and coaches: Bloopity, Lynn, Lyndsay, Jill, Shannon, Kris, Katie, Katie, Shelley, Lauren, Leslie, Marcie, Kyle, Devney, Anna, Mary, Holly, Laura, Jess, Sonia, Ashley, Mike, and Chris)

We let go of something and then it pops back up. What is the gift and the opportunity in that moment? Ask yourself, is there something more to learn, experience, appreciate, explore? 

have you ever recognized something, processed it for the first time, after "seeing" it a hundred times? It is a curious phenomenon. Look around your environment, soak it in. I am grateful any time I get to see something with new eyes.

This Thanksgiving I am sitting with creating space for multiple and complex emotions. Let's build our muscle for holding and honoring the truth, and the "both, and" of our feelings about it. 

We have the power to plant seeds of love, hope and celebration. Today I wanted to remind you that you are a champion, even if you forget. Pass it on. 

We each have our own unique relationship with and definition of play. What is made possible when we expand our definitions of the situations, places and, spaces we give ourselves permission to play? I encourage you to give yourself gentleness and compassion and permission to be closed to playful energy when it doesn't feel appropriate or possible for you. If and when you do feel a sense of glee, how might you honor or say "yes" to allowing that natural instinct to emerge? When you notice a sense of glee in others, how might you honor or say "yes" to encouraging that natural instinct to emerge?

Particularly during intense or challenging times, play can be the first thing to go. Giving ourselves permission to play is critical to living and thriving. It might feel hard or invalidating to the pain of life to play. When there is heaviness in our world it is even more important to play and connect and to fill up our cup and our hearts with joy. How and when might you give yourself permission to play with others? Sending love to you today. 

References in this episode:

Chalres "Chuck" Sams III, a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, is the first Native American to lead the National Parks Service as its Director. 

David Treuer is an Ojibwe author and historian. I reference his latest book "The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee," in this episode. 

Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's research on Play and Flow. The book I reference in this episode is "flow," and the chart I discuss you can find versions of if you search his name and "flow chart."

We are all developed or experienced in some areas and not others. No one has this thing all figured out or dialed in. No one is perfect. I was surprised to realize that the basic household task I did today.. it was my first time doing it! What is an area you would like to learn about, discover or develop? Let's give ourselves permission to be beginners, we need to start somewhere.

During these wild, new and changing times, there are likely several adulting things that have fallen through the cracks in your life. Let's give ourself compassion! When you are prepared, pay on time, and take the clothes out of the washer before they have stayed in there too long and you need to rewash them.. give yourself a pat on the back, that's a win babay!