Certainly playing any sport has its ups and downs. That is why we compete in sports. We enjoy the thrill of the ups and with that unfortunately comes the despise of the lows. I can say that I have had such a blessed career that has been filled with more ups than downs. I have been a part of a team that won back to back national championships and remains some of my closest friends, I have been able to pay next to and against olympians, world cup players, champions league players and some of the best players in the world. Played for one of the best college programs in the US and in front of the best women's soccer fans in the world. I have met some of the most awesome people I will ever meet because of the teams I have been a part of. Yes, football certainly has brought me so many amazing and wonderful blessings.
Unfortunately, with all of those highs it has also brought me the lows. As an athlete, our responsibility is our body, as I have said before. We push our bodies to the limit. We wake up some mornings unable to get out of bed without feeling sore muscles that we didnt even know existed. We watch what we eat, denying temptations for a delicious treat, or a good, fat hamburger. And, although it sounds crazy, we actually like doing that. But, this game that we like doing all this for, not only puts our bodies in pain, but it can sometimes attack our spirit and our emotions.
I think everyone experiences these emotions in their own way, but all athletes share this particular connection. In a recent conversation with my grandma she told me that some people want to ride the roller coaster of life and some people want to ride the mary-go-round. She said she was happy staying on the mary-go-round but I was a roller coaster rider. And I thought that was a funny way of putting the tribulations of a sportsman's life. We seek the roller coasters because the highs feel so good but the lows feel so bad.
The reason I bring all of this up is not to make you think that I am down or something, although my moods do vary greatly day to day here... but rather to show you how I have dealt with them. I have always had a great appreciation and passion for art, in so many different ways. I wish I could say that I am an artist myself, but I think the only art I can truly say I am good at is soccer. Other than that, I simply try to create, even though its not that good.
So, when I feel these ups and downs in their most extremes I usually have to find someway of expressing them, otherwise they consume me. You all have seen some of my writing which has been a great outlet for me. I read, as you all know, I finished the Harry Potter series in a ridiculous and pathetically fast amount of time and am now reading a book called "Shantaraam" which is AMAZING!! I play the guitar or the piano, sometimes playing loud and hard and sometimes slow and in minor chords letting it sound like my mood. I draw, sketch something, allowing my hands to move and create (usually it ends up looking out of proportion but it feels good to try). And recently, I have been taking photos with my new camera.
And lastly, I listen to music... and have put together a list of some of my favorite songs that have spoken words that I could not find. I suggest you all listen to them if you can! But a word of caution... I have quite a random and strange taste in music, so some of it is probably not on the top charts of everyone's personal list....Enjoy!!!
The Love Song........ K-OS
King of Wishful Thinking...... Go West
The Lime Tree.............Trevor Hall
The Promise......... Ben Howard
Woman Go....... Joe Purdy
Ragged Mile.......... John Butler Trio
The Summer We Raised You.........Years Around the Sun
Jesus is the Only Answer.......... Bela Fleck
Djorolen...... Bela Fleck
Highway Man...... Hoffmaestro
Come Rain or Come Shine...... Billie Holiday
32 Flavors...... Ani DiFranco
Uncle John's Band...... The Grateful Dead
Street Fighting Man..... The Rolling Stones
Beija Eu......Tribalista
I Get Out.... Lauryn Hill
Heartbeats...... The Knife
Mighty River.... Railroad Earth
One Day.... Matisyahu
There is one other thing that I do to consume my free time... but it is not ready yet so you will have keep checking in to see my last and probably my best piece of work, off the field. I will show it to you as soon as possible!
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy my art choices and if you dont... well I guess thats the beauty of art... its not for everyone!
I would like to give a special shout out to my parents right here because they are doing a sweet bike race this weekend in Durango, CO and I just want to say that I wish I could be there sharing the experience with them! Cant wait to see everyone when I get back!
Cheers!
Dani
Unfortunately, with all of those highs it has also brought me the lows. As an athlete, our responsibility is our body, as I have said before. We push our bodies to the limit. We wake up some mornings unable to get out of bed without feeling sore muscles that we didnt even know existed. We watch what we eat, denying temptations for a delicious treat, or a good, fat hamburger. And, although it sounds crazy, we actually like doing that. But, this game that we like doing all this for, not only puts our bodies in pain, but it can sometimes attack our spirit and our emotions.
I think everyone experiences these emotions in their own way, but all athletes share this particular connection. In a recent conversation with my grandma she told me that some people want to ride the roller coaster of life and some people want to ride the mary-go-round. She said she was happy staying on the mary-go-round but I was a roller coaster rider. And I thought that was a funny way of putting the tribulations of a sportsman's life. We seek the roller coasters because the highs feel so good but the lows feel so bad.
The reason I bring all of this up is not to make you think that I am down or something, although my moods do vary greatly day to day here... but rather to show you how I have dealt with them. I have always had a great appreciation and passion for art, in so many different ways. I wish I could say that I am an artist myself, but I think the only art I can truly say I am good at is soccer. Other than that, I simply try to create, even though its not that good.
So, when I feel these ups and downs in their most extremes I usually have to find someway of expressing them, otherwise they consume me. You all have seen some of my writing which has been a great outlet for me. I read, as you all know, I finished the Harry Potter series in a ridiculous and pathetically fast amount of time and am now reading a book called "Shantaraam" which is AMAZING!! I play the guitar or the piano, sometimes playing loud and hard and sometimes slow and in minor chords letting it sound like my mood. I draw, sketch something, allowing my hands to move and create (usually it ends up looking out of proportion but it feels good to try). And recently, I have been taking photos with my new camera.
Some of the scenery around the base
The graffiti in Russia is amazing....
How Ximel and I pass time....
the trampoline is called a studsmatta in Swedish... Ximel loves it!
And lastly, I listen to music... and have put together a list of some of my favorite songs that have spoken words that I could not find. I suggest you all listen to them if you can! But a word of caution... I have quite a random and strange taste in music, so some of it is probably not on the top charts of everyone's personal list....Enjoy!!!
The Love Song........ K-OS
King of Wishful Thinking...... Go West
The Lime Tree.............Trevor Hall
The Promise......... Ben Howard
Woman Go....... Joe Purdy
Ragged Mile.......... John Butler Trio
The Summer We Raised You.........Years Around the Sun
Jesus is the Only Answer.......... Bela Fleck
Djorolen...... Bela Fleck
Highway Man...... Hoffmaestro
Come Rain or Come Shine...... Billie Holiday
32 Flavors...... Ani DiFranco
Uncle John's Band...... The Grateful Dead
Street Fighting Man..... The Rolling Stones
Beija Eu......Tribalista
I Get Out.... Lauryn Hill
Heartbeats...... The Knife
Mighty River.... Railroad Earth
One Day.... Matisyahu
There is one other thing that I do to consume my free time... but it is not ready yet so you will have keep checking in to see my last and probably my best piece of work, off the field. I will show it to you as soon as possible!
Anyways, I hope you all enjoy my art choices and if you dont... well I guess thats the beauty of art... its not for everyone!
I would like to give a special shout out to my parents right here because they are doing a sweet bike race this weekend in Durango, CO and I just want to say that I wish I could be there sharing the experience with them! Cant wait to see everyone when I get back!
Cheers!
Dani
Beautiful..poetic. you inspire me. You are truly living...experiencing and absorbing everything around you. Such depth in your expression. Thank you for this post. Love u so vey very much
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