Faith

​ Growing up, I spent a lot of time in nature. I loved climbing trees, picking fresh fruit, and enjoying the sounds of life all around me. I don't think I would be the person I am today without that foundation. There's something about the natural world that grounds you, calms you, and helps you refocus. I believe that "something" is God. Genesis talks about the creation of Earth, and it's certainly a wonder to read. Everything He made He called good, and the creation process

​ Many times in life, we can drift away from the things that grounded and encouraged us at the start of our journey. It could be a person, an activity, or even a special place. For me, it was my faith. Praying was a way for me to disconnect from the grind of training and competing, and remind myself that all of my hard work wasn’t just routine, but it had a purpose. My goals mattered enough for me to put this much work in, and it would be worth it — if only so I could say tha