It’s the end of the year and we’re less than a week away from Christmas. For all of those who celebrate, MERRY CHRISTMAS!

The week is typically all about giving gifts and being together. But it is also really busy. In the midst of all the busyness, it’s really hard to see things clearly. The last weeks of December are usually a whirlwind and before we know it we’re already in the next calendar year! Even though many have time off from work and more precious time with family and friends, there’s rarely a moment to slow down, step back and reflect on the year.

So that’s what I wanted to do with this post, and maybe it will encourage you to do the same.

We’re surrounded by gifts this time of year. But…what if you took a moment to unfold the entire 2021 calendar and search it for gifts? 

Before I look ahead and dream about 2022 (and you all know, I’m going to do that) I want to look back and unfold the calendar pages to see all the gifts that 2021 gave me. And, let’s be honest – life is still pretty pandemic-y weird. So, it’s not as easy as it used to be to look back on your year and smile.

But, I do have a lot to smile about. 

So here’s a roundup of the gifts that 2021 gave me. 

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2021 Gave Me the Gift of Consistency

Every single month I held an EYT. Well, except for June, only because the youth bowling schedule was very packed. So every single month I showed up for these youth bowlers. I committed my time to them so that they can become strong leaders and more polished bowlers. Every single month I drove home after the event with a full cup. I have so much pride and love for this community. 

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I posted a blog article and sent a newsletter EVERY. SINGLE. WEEK. For those who write, you know how hard it is to keep showing up and spilling your guts. I also got pretty personal this year, and as time goes on, I have allowed myself to show up even more vulnerably. Because if I’m not open and vulnerable and not being true to myself, what’s the point, right? Thank you for accepting who I am, for learning from me, and for encouraging me to continue to post my thoughts.

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When I look back into my daily/monthly planner (because I literally just did that) I see how consistent I was showing up in the gym. Focusing on my health was important to me in 2021. Even when I didn’t want to – I did. Even when I didn’t feel great. I showed up. When I had 338 other things I could be doing? I. Went. To. The. Gym. 

2021 Gave Me the Gift of New Ideas

2021 really gave me the gift of creation in so many ways…

I created a Beyond the Lanes Tour. Piggybacking on the 2021 PWBA season, I was able to teach in-person Beyond the Lanes classes. I was able to bring my teachings to bowlers all across the country, even meeting and learning from some of you! I also saw GoalsLAB come to life early 2021! I helped many of you set your goals and intentions for this year and develop a plan to stick to them! Interested in 2022 GoalsLAB? CLICK HERE!

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I had a fun collaboration with Daria Pajak. Together we launched Power Academy where she shares and teaches how she is able to generate so much power on the lanes. I helped give her a platform to shine, and shine she did! While working together we also formed a deeper friendship and I can honestly say, she’s someone I want on my team forever. (Good timing too, because she is teaching a FREE Power Masterclass this week! Have you signed up?)

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In 2021, EYT hit the $250,000 mark for total scholarships given out. I am so proud of the difference we are making. And that made me think. What if we shifted our focus…and every month, we’re not just a community for great bowling but also about more impact on a bigger scale? I constantly want to provide more, have a deeper impact, and help these young bowlers leave their mark. In November, we collected enough food during the food drive to provide 271 meals. I thought, wow, the Elite Youth Tour community was able to have such a major impact just by showing up. It dawned on me, why not do this every month? And a new idea was born. Every month we will focus efforts on a specific impact. Earlier in December, we had a toy drive for less fortunate kids. Over 100 new toys were brought by my EYT community for kids who don’t have a holiday season like we do. January will be a book drive, and we will continue giving throughout the year with a different theme each month. This is just the beginning of the impact I envision for the Elite Youth Tour and I’m excited to see how much impact we can have in one year. 

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I wrote a book! I had always wanted to write my story and express the lessons that I’ve learned through bowling, and 2021 was the year I finally did that. This book represents many of the reasons I was able to get into the winner’s circle. And I definitely don’t think it will be the last book I write. Thanks to everyone who bought a copy! (Copies still available HERE.)

2021 Gave Me the Gift of Adding a New Heartbeat to Our Family

Carmen, our mini Aussie doodle, is a gift in the most literal sense and has added new life to our family. She offers us unconditional love, no matter how we’re feeling, and is always thrilled to see us. She loves morning snuggles, raw food, and laying on the floor, all four legs sprawled out. She is considered a “covid dog” since we adopted her during the pandemic but she is the addition to our family we didn’t even know we needed. Carmen was definitely a very big gift of 2021 and we’ve just celebrated her 1st birthday! Time with her is a joy and we can’t wait to spend the next year with her.

2021 Gave Me the Gift of Tenacity and Balance

I bowled part-time on the PWBA tour in 2021. It’s my choice to bowl part-time. The reason is very easy – my children. I do not want to miss the important moments. I don’t want them to look back at their childhood and remember how often I was gone. So I focused in 2021 on balancing bowling part-time and mothering full-time. That took tenacity to manage. And I think I did a pretty dang good job of it. But it’s always a hard transition for professional athletes to move from full-time to part-time. It’s still not the easiest thing. When you let go a little you can’t help but feel like you’re letting go of yourself a bit. Even when that truly isn’t the case. And when I did bowl this year, my knees hurt. Let’s face it. As we get older things get harder. As much as I take care of my body, arthritis doesn’t care. So whenever I step onto the approach, I remember my grit. I’m not done bowling yet and with the support of my amazing sponsors (Storm, Turbo, H5G), I will continue to bowl part-time in 2022 filled with grit and tenacity. 

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As I reflect on the year, were there things that could have been better in 2021? Yes. Of course. But we all are works in progress. Give yourself grace, and before you begin looking ahead to what’s next, don’t make the mistake of not looking back and finding the gifts of this past year. 

So, why not take a moment right now to reflect on the gifts this year gave you. When you take the time to look back, what gifts from 2021 do you see?