I stayed up way past my bed time watching the U.S. Olympic women’s soccer team play against Canada’s team last night.

Soccer is my favorite sport. I think it has something to do with the fact that everyone of my children played it growing up. Soccer tournaments were our family vacations, and they became a huge part of our lives for many years. It was thrilling to see our U.S. team win in the final moments of the game!

I am always impressed with the physicality of soccer players. These women inhabit their bodies! Although I grew up in a time when girls did not have the opportunity to play team sports at this level, over the years I have learned how to connect to my body, how to listen to it, and live in it with grace.

I’m not naïve enough to believe that soccer players are immune to body dissatisfaction or eating disorders, but it is encouraging to see women “in their bodies” tackling, running and using their bodies in such powerful ways.

Watching our U.S. women’s soccer team play so well together reminds me of the importance of being a team. Every woman kept their eyes on one another to support each other on the field. They had to yell over the crowd’s roar to let each other know when they were open, or when they needed support. I could clearly see they were at the point of exhaustion at the end of the game, but they continued playing with all their might.

“The team refuses to lose,” U.S. coach Pia Sundhage said. “There is something where they have an extra gear.”

Let’s take a lesson from our U.S. Olympic soccer team and refuse to let body dissatisfaction win. We can gear up our determination to recover from eating disorders, or to commit to loving ourselves. Just like our women’s soccer team, we can’t do it alone. We need support from each other on our journeys towards Self-Love and Body Acceptance.

Join the Love Warrior Community and be a part of our team.

Blessings,

Michelle

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