"If you wake up in the mornin'and you can't think of anything but singin' first...then you're supposed to be a singer girl" Sister Act 2

"I know you want to sing. See. I love to sing. Nothing makes me happier. I either wanted to be a singeror the head of the Ice Capades.

Hey. Do you know who the Ice Capades are? Don't roll your eyes. They were very cool. I went to my mother. who gave me this book...called Letters To A Young Poet.

Rainer Maria Rilke. He's a fabulous writer.

A fellow used to write to him and say:

"I want to be a writer.Please read my stuff."

And Rilke says to this guy:"Don't ask me about being a writer. lf When you wake up in the morning. you can think of nothing but writing...then you're a writer."

I'm gonna say the same thing to you.

If you wake up in the mornin'and you can't think of anything but singin' first...then you're supposed to be

a singer. Girl.

What's the point of your story. Sister?

 What's the point?

Read the book." Sister Act 2

What is the difference between being great, striving for excellence and just average.. What is average? It is actually ok to be average… But if you want to achieve greatness what makes someone special or something great?  Not everyone strives for greatness because there is also a risk; a risk of failure. Is there madness in working so hard day in and day out for a dream that could never be?  Giving everything for success that is not guaranteed?  It is those who take that risk that almost seem 'crazy' to others.  I have been told I was 'crazy' so many times.. ("You train to much" "You work to hard" "With your condition this is near to impossible…")

It takes courage to take the ‘risk’  From everything I have been through I learned that when it comes to your dreams you should always take the risk and give it all you have.  There is a risk of failure but I know the biggest failure is not going for it because if you don’t go for it you have already failed!! Dreaming is living and living is dreaming!! Take that chance.

For me, it is the details that make such a big difference.  It is the small details that create the difference between just average and greatness; not just in soccer but in everything in life.

Some of my session are so simple but the "details" are the focus. For example: the individual pieces of a simple ‘1-2/give and go’ make this small combination a complete masterpiece.  It is a chess game of unlimited possibilities of finding the right puzzle pieces and problem solving.  It does not matter if you are a national team player or a youth player, the details are important!!

I am very detailed in everything I do. I have many sayings when I coach.. Some I have developed from people I admire and some I have no idea how I come up with them.

“happy feet”

“make each other  look good”

“play the best foot”

“Diamonds are forever”

“Doris”

“find the connection”

“winners go high”
"help your teammate up"

“ONE Tyreso ONE TEAM!”

After a training with my team we were standing in a ring and one of my teammates was sitting down while everyone else was standing.  Our captain says to everyone "look at her" Then another teammate looks at me while helping her up and says in english "Help your teammate up" All I could do was smile!

After every session I have in Tyreso I bring them together I say “Winners go high. We are ONE Tyreso. One TEAM!!”

I had a theory session with the junior team before my game. They wanted me to run the theory and told me they would give me a ride to the game so I could do both. The game was 20 minutes away.  I thanked my fellow coach for the ride and he looked at me and said “ Of course!! ONE TEAM, ONE TYRESO. Winners go high, just like you say.. Good luck!!” After hearing that I was full of energy and ready to play!

In our game yesterday we had some players that were injured and sick so my coach asked some of the players that I have trained if they could stay for the game.  They came in, in the second half and they “found the connections” and make “everyone look good” around them.  While playing I was admiring their play and so proud of them!! After the game I told them how great it was to actually “play” with them and with their bright wide eyes that were full of excitement said “No it was our pleasure.” It did not matter that they were on the younger team we are “ONE TEAM”

I love this clip in sister act 2!! What she says its true!! Whatever drives you.. Whatever your dream is. Whatever you think about when you first wake up in the morning.. Have the courage and go for it!!!!

" 'You can't save all of them.. there are too many. What difference can you possibly make to all these dying starfish?' " As the kid picked up another starfish… and threw it back into the water.. he replied to the old man, "I made a difference with that one!"

Things on my mind..

 I think back to the coaches I have had as a player and I think of the ones that really made an impact on my life..  Just to believe in someone I have learned is one of the biggest gifts you can give..  You hear these sorrowful stories and things all the time but then on the field for just 90 minutes there are moments where you get "taken away" and feel pure joy.  Happiness that is so real it "saves" you and can make you forget all your troubles even if it is for a second.. Today, I coach and have coached so many different players, personalities and teams. I want to make a difference with as many "starfish" as possible!

I love this quote.. You can not become a lion by training with deer.. As a player and as a coach I am drawn to these lions. I want to be the best, so as a player if I beat the best at their best then I know I am the best. I know am a Lion. 

I overheard a team I coached talking and saying before a game, "They are to good" "They are the best" "They have senior level players" "We are juniors" I look at them in my pre game speech and said "I hope they have all their best players!!! You think we are going to lose. Its ok because they are more experienced, older, better?.. but what happens if we WIN???! I hope they have their whole national team. I don't care about them. I care about us. We are good, we have the right pieces, together we are unbreakable!!" They just looked at me.. Then I ask "So what does that make us if we WIN?!" That day we came to the field as a deer and left as a Lion!! 

I saw this picture this morning and it reminded me of my staircase!! The feeling of being able to conquer the stairs in my school was like winning a world cup.  Something so little to you can seem so big to someone else. New steps are awaiting and it takes a lot of courage to take that "first" or "next" step. Here is my staircase story http://jackiebachteler.blogspot.se/2012/10/every-step-you-take-every-move-you-make.html

This is from the movie Center stage.. It is about a group of dancers in the American Ballet Academy in NYC.  One of the very talented dancers did not get a good role in the ballet. She is not liked by the director and one of her teachers Juliette Simone gives here some GREAT advice!! If you don't make if at first "go back to the bar (floor)" (as they say in dance) Work, train, keep going..  "If you come back here you'll be home" When things get tough, when things don't work out, when I do not succeed I always go back the field… There I will always feel at "home"

"Standing - frozen in the life I've chosen. You won't find me, the past is so behind me. Buried in the snow Let it go, let it go Can't hold it back anymore"

A mini “highlight reel…”

Disney 2005

I am at the college showcase with Soccerplus. We are playing at the Wild World of Sports.  Every college scout from my dream school is at this game. I combine with one my teammates. She plays a perfect ball in the air, into the box.  Everything freezes. I do a bicycle kick. I hit the ball just right.  I’m on the ground watching the ball roll into the back of the net.  I let it go.. My arms are in the air and my teammates are rushing to me.

Florida Southern 2008

We are in overtime against St. Leo; a team that Florida Southern has NEVER beaten before. It is 2-2.  I am dribbling in their attacking half. Our midfielder, Christina Crooks plays a perfect ball to our attacking midfielder, Erin Hopkins who is making an attacking run into the box. Erin back heels the ball to our forward, Princess Haley.  Princess strikes the ball. I stand there frozen, everything stops around me, and every thing is quiet. Then that ball goes upper 90 and hits the back of the net.  We let it go.  We won the game and the coaches, fans and alumni crash the field!!

Soccerplus CT Reds 2009

We are playing the Boston Aztecs at home. I am playing with a giant cast on a broken arm. It is 1-1.  I make a run in behind the back 4, a perfect ball is played, and the Aztec goalkeeper is coming out to meet me… I am running but everything freezes. Instead of shooting I cut the ball back one touch to our forward who now has a wide open net. The ball hits the back of the net and we let it go in celebration.

Boston Aztecs/Boston Breakers 2010

 I am at Harvard training with the Breaker Reserves.  At the end of the training the assistant coach of the Breakers comes up to me. “Can you stay and train with the Breakers” I freeze.  I can’t speak. All I can do is nod. My heart is so full and feels like it is going to fall out.  “Go with Jenny to get practice gear.” I am still frozen. I can’t believe it. I am walking to the locker room just looking down and Jenny says to me “Are you ok?” “Breath!!” She hands me the training gear. I am in the locker room. “Stay here for a second, take a deep breath, and come out when you are ready” A dream come true.. I am about to train with a team and players I dreamed about playing with since I was 12. I am all geared up, look in the mirror, take a deep breath and I let it go!!

 Finland 2011

We are playing away.  I combine with a teammate; our central midfielder Linda Nyman chips a perfect ball into the box for me to run on to. The goalkeeper is coming out. The ball is bouncing. Everything freezes… I chip the goalkeeper. My adrenaline is pumping as I watch the ball hit the back of the net. I let it go!! My arms are up in celebration as my teammates tackle me!!

Tyreso 2013

The Tyreso TikiTaka Camp included the most amazing staff that you could ever imagine, including the A players themselves; Marta, Seger, Vero, Press, Dala, Meghan, Line, Sempan, etc. I directed this camp. My vision came to life.  The first day everyone is lined up, the kids are in the stands, the excitement is outrageous. They have been given the opportunity to train with the best female soccer players in the world first hand!! We head to the small field, 12 staff coaches, 18 A team world class players and 150 campers. I am frozen in the moment. All eyes on me, everyone has a ball, I have a ball. I let it go!!

I am about to coach U12 boy’s team in Vendelso.  Borje (my boss at TikiTaka) meets me at the field. “How would you like to play for Tyreso?” Frozen again, just nodding my head. “I would love that.” To be apart of the best team and club in the world and have the opportunity to train with the best players in the world was beyond my wildest dreams.  I ran the session in Vendelso with Tyreso on my mind. I go on the bus still “Frozen” but so full at the same time. I call Borje and tell him “Thank you! I just can’t believe it.”

Djurgarden 2014

We are playing at home at beautiful Stockholm’s Stadion.  It is my first start in the Elitettan. We are playing against Alta and Melanie; my little sister is there to watch.  It is the first half. We win the ball in the final third.  I have the ball at my feet, the space opens up and I take it. I strike the ball with my left foot. Everything freezes, my heart stops, the ball goes upper 90 and hits the back of the net.  I let it go. I am running in celebration with my arms in the air and Melanie got see it!! It was a moment of complete joy.

The Frozen Moment

 I recently took a spontaneous trip to Frankfurt Germany to visit Vero and watch her play in Champions league. It was such a great weekend!!! On the way back I had a 6-hour layover in Paris. I decided to go into the city. I take the train and when I step off the train I am “Frozen” again by what I saw.  I was looking at Notre Dame. This structure made my heart stop. I was in complete awe; I had never seen anything like it… 

I could go on and on about these “Frozen moments” I have experienced.  Many of these moments happen outside the lines as well.   Maybe it is a new crush. Maybe you have met someone so great they “freeze” you and are searching for words. It can be when you are meeting someone new or the moment before you tell someone you love them for the first time. It could be a building, a place, a team, a person, an artist, a song, a selfless act, a conversation, or any beauty that makes you stop in complete awe because of the greatness and beauty it possesses.

 That frozen moment before something great is about to happen is what I live for.  It is that moment before... Where everything gets quiet…   In soccer for me, that frozen moment comes right before the whistle blows to start the game, when the ball hits the back of the net, when arms are in the air in celebration and that rush of my team and the crowd.   It is almost like everything gets quiet, and you are thinking about absolutely nothing when it is absolutely necessary. These moments make you feel alive.   

I can be so amazed by many things.  When that happens it is like I see nothing else. So, just like in the movie Frozen do not be afraid to “Let it Go” take the chance and jump into something great!!