It’s Thanksgiving and I have a LOT to be thankful for. My beautiful family. My friends who turned into family, and bowling, who has been my greatest teacher, my biggest challenge, and my truest guide. It’s shaped who I am and how I see the world. And for all of that, I am endlessly grateful.

One of the hardest truths I’ve learned through bowling is that you lose a lot more than you win. For someone like me, who pours everything into what I do, that was a bitter pill to swallow. Losing hurts. It’s heavy, and sometimes it stays with you long after the tournament ends. But eventually, I realized that every loss brought with it a lesson I didn’t know I needed. Losing wasn’t the end; it was the beginning of something better.

I’ll never forget the sting of losing the USBC Queens in 2007. I led all week, didn’t lose a single match in double elimination, and then—when it mattered most—I made mental mistakes on the TV show. I let the pressure get to me. For a long time, I carried that loss like a scar. But five years later, I found myself in the exact same position. This time, though, I wasn’t trying to prove anything. I wasn’t overthinking or second-guessing. I leaned on everything I had learned from 2007—the heartbreak, the growth, the self-awareness—and I won. That moment taught me something I’ll carry with me forever: failure doesn’t define you. What you do with it does.

I’m grateful that bowling has made me feel. On such a deep level. The happiest of happy and the saddest of sads. Bowling reminds me that I’m alive, and I honor every single emotion it has brought out in me. 

Beyond the wins and losses, the relationships I’ve built through bowling are some of the greatest gifts of my life. This sport has introduced me to people who feel more like family than friends. We’ve shared so much—joy, heartache, laughs, and everything in between. These are the people who send me cards during the holidays, who show up when life gets hard, and who cheer the loudest when I succeed. Bowling brought us together, but what we share goes far beyond the lanes.

I’m also grateful for the sport itself. There’s a kind of beauty in the simplicity of bowling—it’s you, the ball, and the pins. Either you knock them down, or you don’t. There’s no gray area, no guessing game. It’s a challenge of precision and consistency, and it doesn’t care about your feelings. That clarity has shaped me in ways I didn’t expect. It’s taught me to focus on what I can control and let go of what I can’t—a lesson that has served me both on the lanes and in life.

And then there’s the comfort of it all. Bowling isn’t tied to the seasons. You don’t have to check the weather or adjust to the elements. The lanes are always there, familiar and constant, no matter what’s happening outside. That sense of stability has been a grounding force for me, especially in moments when the rest of life felt anything but stable.

Bowling has also shown me the world in a way I never imagined. It’s taken me to places I might never have seen otherwise. I’ve stood on lanes in countries where I didn’t speak the language, but the love of the game connected us instantly. I’ve traveled to new cities and experienced different cultures, all because of this incredible sport. From Moscow, Russia, to Aalborg, Denmark, to Buenos Aires, Argentina and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirtes. Those experiences have shaped my perspective, broadened my empathy, and reminded me of how small—and connected—the world really is.

To everyone who has been part of my journey—my family, my friends, my teammates, my coaches, and my competitors—thank you. Your support, your kindness, and your belief in me have meant more than words can say. You’ve been with me in the highs and the lows, reminding me why I fell in love with this sport in the first place.

And to bowling itself—thank you for being more than just a game. You’ve been a constant in my life, a place to grow, to fail, and to rise again. You’ve taught me resilience, patience, and the power of showing up as my authentic self. You’ve given me moments I’ll never forget and connections that will last a lifetime.

As I reflect on everything this sport has given me, I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. I know I could never repay what I’ve received, but I’ll spend the rest of my life trying. Whether it’s mentoring the next generation, sharing what I’ve learned, or simply being present in the moments that matter, I’m committed to paying it forward. Because bowling isn’t just a part of my story—it’s the reason I have one to tell.

If you’re just beginning your journey in bowling, my hope for you is that you see it for what it really is: an opportunity to grow, to connect, and to discover who you are. And if you’ve been around this sport as long as I have, I hope you never lose sight of the magic that brought you here. We’re lucky—so lucky—to be part of this community. And I, for one, will never stop being grateful for it.