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I think that a lot of women experience that balance between feeling insecure about and appreciative for their bodies. I definitely have.
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I have learned that there's a little bit of a danger in stressing ourselves out and living in the future - worry affects how we are today.
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I gave up on the national team - I thought to myself, 'Well, that's just not something that's going to happen for me.' The national team was in residency camp; I was 6,000 miles away. Nobody was watching, nobody cared... I'm just going to go play for myself and my team and try to be great... and I had more fun than I'd have ever had.
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If I couldn't get to the national team, I wanted to get as much as I could out of soccer, and I think moving abroad was my opportunity to do that. I think that, in turn, playing with that freedom and that spirit allowed me to play a lot better. I escalated my game quickly just by being happy.
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It's really special to play with your friends for your country.
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I think I approach pressure by having discipline and learning to be calm in everyday life. I do this with a daily mindfulness practice and commitment.
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When I started playing in Sweden, there was nobody watching. No one knew who I was, so I was just playing for the love of the game. And after my first season, my coach came up to me and said, 'Of all the people you're the one who smiles the most on the field,' and that was the biggest compliment I ever received.
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No Tinder, no Match, nothing. I don't mind going up to people when I'm out. I have a better chance of getting a read on them that way.
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No hidden talents, but I have a lot of hobbies. Acrylic painting - I got a whole set, and I light candles at night and sit there and paint and look out on Lake Michigan.
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When you're transitioning, and you're trying to develop a better brand of soccer, at some point, you have to step backward before you step forward.
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Staying grounded, eating healthy, doing yoga, staying out of the sun to protect my skin - I think that the daily decisions we make to protect our bodies are the best ways we can care for them.
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You can be one inch from the national team and the opportunity to make so much money and a life out of it. That's why people hang on so long.
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I'm very grateful for the way that I feel when I play. I feel very powerful, I feel fast, I feel unstoppable, and that's because of my body.
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It took me a while to learn, but we are allowed to make mistakes and have flaws.
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Before I found my peace, I was way too much in my head. I found myself on the field in my own thoughts. I've learned that there's a time and a place for my thoughts. The most important thing when I'm on the field is to just be in the moment and let it all go.
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I try to practice mindfulness at all times, including the times where I'm nervous and I'm stressed.
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Whether I'm running up and down the field or running errands, I make it a point to ensure that my skin is protected.
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I've learned from experience not to be too glued to one menu or routine in particular because I never know where I'm going to be and what kind of cuisine it's going to be.
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The American professional schedule gives players a six-month off-season, so many of us have become pickup regulars while training without an organized team.
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I'm 100 percent a byproduct of my sport. I always tell my teammates that I only have muscles where they get to play.
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I've had chronic back pain since I was a preteen - like, 12. I have really funny posture. I developed this funny posture where I hunch my back a little bit when I'm playing, and I overuse my back muscles instead of my abs. My posture has put a lot of strain on my lower back.
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We want more opportunities for women's players throughout the world.
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I really feel gratitude every day in my life that I'm able to do what I love, and I think, because I have that passion and spirit, I've had success.
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My restlessness leaves my mind racing as I try to wind down at the end of mandatory recovery day. It keeps me tossing after poor performances. And if I played well, well... playing well makes me itch to play better; there is always room for improvement.