Maybe the lesson is bigger than the result.

“You know what I noticed when you were struggling? That you didn’t pout about it.”

Jersey said that to me while laying in bed after a horrendous day two of the Women’s US Open.

And it’s true. I never gave up. I never threw myself a pity party. I kept stepping up on the approach and giving it my best. Turns out, my best that day was the worst it’s been in a while.

But I wasn’t a victim. I was the reason it didn’t go well. When there’s a problem, it’s easy to place blame. But can you take accountability when things couldn’t seem to be worse?

I’ve learned not to judge myself. It’s not personal. If something is wrong—fix it. The thing about a terrible tournament is: you find a way to learn from it, and then you let it go forever.

But something in the mess and chaos of the US Women’s Open will live forever. Or at least, I hope it will. It’s what Jersey learned from watching me struggle.

That just because your bowling feels chaotic—your attitude can remain stable.

To remain calm through the chaos is hard. And it hasn’t always been that way. I used to get really sad. Then I went through a stage where sadness turned to anger.

But what I’ve learned is that those negative emotions are not helpful. Ever.

So, I bowl unemotionally. I don’t judge. I watch what happens every shot. I analyze. I make adjustments.

That doesn’t mean that when everything is over, I don’t feel disappointment. I do. I let myself be disappointed. I think about what could have been better. What I need to work on. And I acknowledge what went well—because through the chaos and bad ball reaction and bad shots and missed spares is something I’m proud of.

Sometimes it takes a while to uncover it. In this case, it didn’t take long at all.

I’m proud of how I showed up—even through the chaos.

My results are temporary. But what Jersey saw that chaotic week in Lincoln, NE in 2025?

That will last her a lifetime.