It’s upbeat, it’s fun, and the title itself really resonates with me. What I’ve realized through my experience is that growth and success happen step by step, and they require patience. I truly believe we need to understand the process of what we do and not rush it.

We live in a world where there seem to be quick answers and instant solutions for everything. People want to skip ahead and get things as fast as possible. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I believe relationships take time. They need nurturing, patience, and care. When I hear this song, it reminds me of all of that, but in a fun, upbeat way.

“The message I stress, to make it stop, study your lessons/ Don’t settle for less, even the genius asks questions/ be grateful for blessings/ don’t ever change, keep your essence/ the power is in the people and politics, we address/ do your best”

It’s not about the lyrics—it’s about the vibe. I’ve played soccer my whole life, and it has brought me so much joy and taken me in so many directions.

With the rise of mental health and other issues in today’s society—especially in the sport-based youth development world—I feel like we’re starting to drift away from just the joy of sport. There are so many ways that sport is now being used as a tool for mental health, social-emotional learning, and positive body affirmation, which I believe are all very important.

At the same time, it sometimes feels like the magic of just playing the sport is fading. So I find myself going back and forth and feeling conflicted about that.