Energies have always been super interesting to me. The idea that everything on this planet has an energy and frequency is fascinating. Those who know me best understand my infatuation with energy. You can feel it being around people. The good energy and the not so good energy.

I think so much of the time, we just live our lives and we don’t pay attention to our energy. But it comes back to the idea that you get what you give. I have sort of always known this instinctively, that it is how the universe works, but it really is a powerful realization in life.

I don’t think enough people realize the impact their energy can have, not just on themselves but on those around them as well. So many little things we do can really truly make a difference on a larger scale.

When we give positive energy to the universe, it answers back. So why not focus on our passion and put that into the universe, paying it forward?

These days, every decision I make in my life is centered around the whole idea of paying it forward. I define success now by having impact.

All of the “riches” I’ve received from this sport, all the things that I was able to do, I feel like I want to give so much of it back and pay it forward in hopes that this next generation will then be able to pay it forward too. The Elite Youth Tour is sort of my biggest manifestation of paying it forward. (So far). Creating this inspiring community has meant so much to me (but, spoiler, there’s so much more manifesting too).

You may have seen me post pictures on Instagram with Cameron Crowe recently, who has bowled my Elite Youth Tour for years. He won the Junior Gold U20 division a few weeks ago and Madden and I were there, cheering him on in person! That was really special. I felt like I had such a ‘proud mom’ moment that day. Cam is such a stand up guy. He’s so grateful and humble and kind. He’s everything that bowling needs right now. I was so proud and emotional seeing him win because that’s why I built this.

Cam is now synonymous with Champion. Outsiders look at him and think, “Wow. He’s just good. Maybe born that way.” Here’s the thing though, nobody knows that when he started, when he was in the U15 division, he never won. Month after month he grinded away. And during the grind something happened. He figured out how to win. That’s the journey that nobody sees. It is also the reason why he is now just crushing it everywhere he goes. Everybody just sees Cameron winning now but I’m just so proud that I got to watch him grow. I was able to see the journey of figuring out HOW to win.

It’s so common to have moments of doubt and start asking, “am I good enough to be here?” When you’re a kid, sometimes you just need to be shown the way a little, given a chance. The EYT community gives them that supportive community from the beginning of their journey, to tell them that they belong here, to cheer them on, grow with them and encourage them to keep going. Even through the losses and failures in the beginning.

The Elite Youth Tour has become an unbelievably strong community. I’m so proud of EYT being able to become a platform, a place to come together and support one another. Empowering others through the Elite Youth Tour has meant so much to me. In the almost ten years that it has been running, I’ve seen kids like Cameron start as early as eight or nine years old and stay with the tour until they’re 20. They grow up with the tour. They learn to win here.

That sense of community is really the heartbeat of the Elite Youth Tour.

If you have been following along with my weekly writing, you may recall that love of community was actually where it all began for me, through my grandma Betty. She bowled in a league in Dyer, Indiana and gave my sister and me our first bowling balls. (You can read about her again here). She bowled for no other reason than the community and took me along bowling with her every Wednesday night to her league night. The fun and community she experienced is what initially kept me wanting to go along. And then later, that love for the community grew into my love for the sport. (And, well, for winning.)

Grandma Betty also taught me to be strong. When I would throw gutter after gutter after gutter (Hello, life before bumpers!), she would look at me and remind me to be strong. Even if that meant that I would fail over and over and over and over and over, I was like, “okay, I’m going to figure this out and I’m gonna figure out how to keep my ball on the lane.” When I started seriously bowling, she was always there for me every tournament, cheering the loudest. Like the LOUDEST.

All of that I always hold close to me, and it’s also what I want to pay forward. Bowling has created countless memories and connections for me that will last my lifetime. It has enriched my life on so many levels.

Sometimes we also need to be the ones believing in possibilities to be the ones showing others what is possible. Growing up in that small town, the crazy girl focused on becoming a world champion bowler, people would just look at me and say, “who do you think you are that you think you can become the best in the world at anything?” Then I lived out a life that showed anything is possible and I want to pass that on to the next generation too. Because YOU GET TO CHOOSE. Sorry for yelling. But, this is important.

Things don’t just happen. You have to be willing to work for it. But something shouldn’t be impossible just because it requires effort. I also have so much respect for people like my friend, Jason Belmonte, who has revolutionized the bowling game and showed so many kids that there is no “right” way.

Ultimately, the message I want to pass onto the next generation is, you can truly make a difference in the world and be anything you want to be. Every chance I get, I tell young bowlers, be strong enough and brave enough and courageous enough to be you. Unapologetically. Stay true to your personal style and strengths. And be grateful. Look at your life with gratitude for everything you are and everything you bring to the world. Feel proud of who you are.

I believe those who are strong enough and brave enough to be themselves will make more of a difference in the world.

I will continue to keep paying it forward. This sport gave me too much NOT to do that.