Playful and Risky

I've spent the last 5 days with my family at Disney- an annual girls trip that my travel agent big sister organized.

An annual tradition that allows us to pause our busy lives and come together to talk, to laugh, to eat, and to play together.

My sis, mama, 92 year old kickin it nana, and myself will have these special trips in our hearts and minds forever and allow us to really learn and listen to each other, deepening our relationship and commitment as each other's biggest girl fans.

Women empowering women: females need solidarity more than ever right now in our world.

I am hopeful that we are turning a corner considering females in leadership roles. But think: we've been indoctrinated to assume an outspoken, strong, opinionated, educated male is reliable and safe while a woman with the same characteristics above are bossy, pushy, loud, even obnoxious.

So why (even though most will never admit) do we still hang on to that old message/thought pattern when a female attempts to take on a leadership role.

Just like we need a males human's specific skills in all roles, we just as much need a female's specific skills in all roles for us to achieve a balance and equity in our ideologies in effort for growth.

Where can we start to change this?

Girls in sport.

I believe we can make an impact starting there.

This is a topic I often think about when observing sport. I read somewhere that females (unlike our male counterparts) are wired for connection, support, and care.

In my opinion, when directing, raising developing females in sport, we should teach, model, and show our girls to optimize their individual and team performance through connection rather than distrust.

Are our girls hearing us gossip, criticize, and cut down other females or our competition?

What messages are we breeding? How will this serve our ultimate goal of enhancing our girls' futures and our society as a whole?

Some may say this takes off the aggressive edge of the athlete. That in fact, without that aggressive, domineering, go for blood mentality, we really won't perform at our best. While this may be a successful approach for males in sport (I still am not convinced of that!), I believe differently for females.

In my experience, if we encourage girls to root for each other in trust and care, they will reach help each other reach higher levels in performance PLUS enhance mental and social heath- two things we NEED right now.

This skill is one we need our girls to have going forward as young adults. Afterall, what we teach on the track or the field should transfer. Life is not over after high school or college sports!

GIRLS out there: I urge you to view your competition in gratitude instead of an enemy of war.

For example, I can think "this girl I am lining up against is GOOD. I hope she brings her A game, so I can get out there and push with her- shoulder to shoulder- and maybe even see I can beat her, then smile, and high five for helping me reach that level.

Maybe she beats me, but not without a competitive fire and fight. Maybe I beat her and thank her so much for allowing my effort to rise to a new level. The satisfaction comes from a great effort.

GIRLS out there: I urge you to STOP viewing your opponents AND teammates as threats. Instead, see them as an opportunity to get really playful and risky.

And if you fail, well heck, you're still the same fast, kind, smart, beautiful human you were before and know, your time WILL COME- be patient and positive.

Take away one thing from that experience that you did well- forget about not meeting your arbitrary expectation in your mind. Move forward with what you learned with a light heart and attitude.

So, I challenge you to hope that all your teammates and competition show up and show up strong so that you can have some fierce, fun, unique experiences in sport that are rooted in joy and connection- just like you're wired for...this will fuel longevity in sport.

No more anxiety, distrust, self-doubt, only optimized mental, physical, and social health.

Now who wouldn't want that for their best friends, daughters, and all the gals out there.

Remember, it's so much fun to explore our limits in gratitude, connection, and care.

It's time to get out there and take risks with love..lol. Giddyup!