Once I was walking with teammate Joy Fawcett in a hotel in Haiti. We were barefoot, and the lights went out to save electricity. Joy felt something crunch beneath her feet, and she felt the need to shine her flashlight on the floor. It was, I swear, a five-foot cockroach.
I would be doing anything to avoid a 9-5 job and high heels. Lifeguard, beach volleyball player, whatever.
I understand every parent has a different risk threshold. And I realize life is full of risks, even including harmful chemicals that we interact with on a daily basis.
Girls are so quick to say they can't do something, and they won't even try, whereas boys tend to just go for something even if it's probably a bad idea.
Sports help women stay in school longer and make them less likely to use drugs, break the law, or get pregnant at an early age.
I think that was one of my biggest worries. I didn't want to be so focused on soccer that it became my whole life.
Imagine the day when girls everywhere won't have to fight for the right to be recognized for their great work or their contributions to society.
I have these vivid - some fabulous, some not so fabulous - childhood memories of driving to Lake Tahoe.
I want to go back to college for sure! Who doesn't, right? All your bills are paid for. You're there with all of your friends.
It all comes down to perspective. When I get crabby about something, like the delay that was driving me crazy because I told my kids I'd be home for dinner, I have to remind myself where it fits in the scheme of things. We have to say, 'That's life,' which can sometimes be comforting.
The ebb and flow of daily life can lead to wonderful highs, crushing lows, and everything in between.