SURVIVING 2022: A WOMEN’S SOCCER PODCAST CONFESSION
Is October too early to write an end-of-the-year blog? You know the saying ‘When it rains it pours'? For me and this beloved women’s soccer podcast, 2022 was a torrential rainstorm.
So much so that I came really close to shutting down Women’s World Football Show. Yes, it’s true! Luckily (and I say that with a hint of irony – keep reading!), that didn’t happen. Here’s another saying that comes to mind when I think of 2022 – ‘If it wasn’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all!’
The year started inconspicuously enough with a look towards the future. We featured great guests with amazing and inspirational stories. We were looking forward to the Euros, the U20 and U17 Women’s World Cups, the NWSL season, two new expansion teams in the NWSL, Women’s World Cup qualifiers and yes the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Ah… those were great times!
By May, my focus was all but lost. After a devastating death in the family, I lost my job (yes, I have a real job – gotta finance this pod somehow!), and then a series of unluckiness pelted me like a blistering tornado.
Now, I’m not one to wallow in self pity and I know that even at my lowest, I have a lot to be grateful for. But the things that happened to me were just plain weird. And worst of all, it took my focus off the podcast.
For one, my Lucky Plant that I’ve had for at least 5 years, suddenly died (that should have been my first clue). Believe me, I did everything in my power to try to save it apart from giving it mouth-to-leaf resuscitation.
Then one sunny afternoon while I was walking in my backyard, I took a tumble and split my knee open on the pavers. I wasn’t even drunk! Just walking over to give one of my squirrels a few nuts. That turned out to require six stitches and the inability to walk up stairs in less time than it takes a snail to cross the street.
A few days before that, I stepped on something (again in my backyard) and spent two months trying to dig out whatever was impaled in my heel. Finally after months of pain and frustration, I dug out a shard of glass! When I saw that little sucker come out of my foot, I was elated. I felt like my luck was going to change!
Keep in mind, while all this was happening, Angel City FC and San Diego Wave FC were playing matches right here in my hometown of Southern California. I missed more games than I attended and a bad case of FOMO set in. I had a hard time following the game, much less attending. That’s when the thought of shutting down WWFShow crept into my head.
One morning, I woke up with excruciating pain in my mouth. Oh noooo – not a root canal! It can’t be. First of all, since losing my job my state insurance was anything but stellar and I already had to pay through the nose for my knee incident. Come to find out it was a fractured root and the tooth had to go. Holy Moly!! What’s happening?
By this time, I was going on two months since our last episode. The thought of reaching out to anyone for an interview was way down on my list of priorities. Was episode 205 going to be the last? I couldn’t make that decision while I was in a state of bad luck (that’s what I was calling it).
Then, the thought came to me that maybe it wasn’t bad luck at all. Maybe, just maybe, it was my own mindset. I implanted a thought in my head and it affected everything around me. What was I doing wrong?
Well, first I was convinced of this idea of bad luck and had myself in a muddy ditch spinning my wheels. I had to stop pressing the accelerator. Get out and change my way of thinking.
The first thing I did was buy a new Lucky Plant. Yep – I had been looking at that old pot with two dead branches for months. I went to the supermarket and bought a new vibrant plant for $13.99. As I buckled that little fellow into the passenger seat and drove it to its new home, I felt an instant connection with it. “Nothing but filtered water and 70’s love songs for you my friend.”
Then I did what we all do when we’re feeling a little blue – I went on Amazon. After a little research, I found that Selenite Crystal helps calm your surroundings and brings tranquility while aligning chakras. Sign me up! So I bought an authentic Selenite Crystal Lamp. I’m a believer!
I’m also a believer in the power within. If there’s anything I’ve learned in my 120 years of living it’s that we have infinite power over our lives. Call it God, higher power, consciousness, love, peace, whatever. The infinite power is alive and well, if we stay focused on it. I know this because I’ve seen my life change by keeping attentive to it.
Losing sight of your inner strength is why most people walk around feeling lost, unconscious, or out of control.
We have it all here at our fingertips, but it takes work. I wasn’t doing the work. I was unconscious. Walking around in a funk – falling down, stepping on glass, grinding my teeth. Not being grateful.
That’s the other thing I rediscovered – practicing gratitude. I had a gratitude journal for years, then I kind of stopped. Why? Who knows. Life, no time, etc., etc.
Now, every night before I go to sleep I write in my gratitude journal. The interesting thing about having a gratitude journal is you intentionally go through the day looking for things to be grateful for. Gotta write that down tonight!
I’ve done a lot of other things to stay focused and happy, but this blog is already past my word-count minimum, so we’ll keep it to those few things.
What were the results of this changing mindset? As of this writing I don’t know. I feel like I’m getting my groove back. I’m happy and grateful. I thank God for all the things in my life – good and bad.
And as for the podcast? While I questioned the importance of the show especially in light of all the growth and success of women’s soccer, I realized that it’s still needed. For the two months hiatus, people were still downloading episodes. I mean really downloading – in large numbers.
Some of you listened to our most recent show, others dipped into older shows maybe catching up or re-listening. That made me realize that the little WWFShow podcast was still being enjoyed by listeners around the world. Still needed! That made me feel a great sense of pride and happy obligation.
The show must go on! At least for a little while. I've started attending more press conferences, scheduling interviews with players and people I know you’re going to love hearing from.
The end of 2022 is coming up fast but not without a changing mindset and a renewed energy. I’ll be writing more blogs as well with behind-the-scenes stories and more. I’ll also be doing some swag giveaways and putting out a monthly newsletter – so keep an eye out for all of that!
Another great saying I love is by Dr. Wayne Dwyer - “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”
I’ve been looking at all the good luck and blessings I have and the view is amazing!
