🔸micro blog🔸 For the past year and a half I have been battling a stubborn hip injury and residual chronic pain that has left me unable to play. After exhausting all my options, my mind and my body, I have decided to undergo a second surgery. As athletes, injury is one of the things we fear the most. The loss of control of our bodies, and the desperation to not lose pace with the game that goes on without us, plagues our minds with anxiety and self doubt. I’ve had people tell me - “you’ll never be the same player again”. But I disagree. While we all may be prepared for the physical struggle that comes with injury, nothing can prepare us for the internal mental battle. So much of our identity as athletes is wrapped up in our sport. Our self worth, our confidence. During a time where we are injured we find ourselves searching for meaning. We feel so lost in a world where we can’t do what we love most. Crushed by self doubt, insecurities and lack of identity, I’ve spent the last year and a half attempting to untangle my self worth from soccer. I’ve had to face some demons I’ve been avoiding for years and I’ve been forced to turn inward to find out who I truly am. What I’ve learned is, I am so much more than my sport. I am so much more than this injury. This injury is simply a journey filled with obstacles I have been set to conquer and it is my response to it that defines me. I have a new found confidence in my self and an increased desire to be more loving, understanding and empathetic toward myself, my body and those around me. I will come back with a vengeance, but also with patience. Mostly I will return with a resiliency I would have never obtained without having to face my fears, head on. Because of this I am confident I will come back stronger than I was before. Pain is inevitable. But suffering is optional. This is my story. . . . . . . #womeninsports #injury #comebackszn #recoversohard #womenempowerment #recovery #mentaltoughness #grit #resilience #utahroyalsfc #comeback #fighter #keepfighting