Velocity.
It seems like I cannot get my Gmail to stay under 100 unread messages. This is a pretty big deal when in my past life I was pretty good at keeping my inbox to zero. My text messages and Instagram DMs are the same. If you have been someone trying to reach me – I’m sorry! I’ve been overwhelmed.
As someone who works as a specialist in performance psychology – this is a pretty embarrassing confession. Even writing this post has had to be (and continues to be) written with breaks put in.
It didn’t dawn on me until recently – I realize that this loss of my usual (admittedly overachieving) level of productivity has come from a very basic issue. The loss or lack of stability.
This might seem a little odd – as I moved to another city on the other side of the country for a job that is indeed, incredibly stable. And starting 2026, I feel WAY more rooted in a place I never thought I would live working in a sport I never thought about… at all really.
The brain hates uncertainty. In psychology, it is common knowledge that even maladaptive and problematic behaviors are preferred when they are predictable versus changing into more productive and helpful behaviors – just by the fact that they, and their consequences are unknown.
I’ve moved A LOT in my life. Especially when I was an athlete. Navigating new places, always being lost, getting rerouted in really complicated ways – are small and compounding stressors that come up multiple times in one day. Then the big stones of housing, navigating bills and new accounts, and then stack disability with new providers, finding quality care that accepts your specific type of insurance… when I reflect it really has felt like a lot.
So I want to formally apologize for everyone sitting in my inboxes. I’m sorry. I have been overwhelmed! I didn’t realize that while I dealt with a lot of instability as an athlete, the rigid routines helped fill in some structure and predictability I don’t have in my post-athletic career. Now, I am in year 2 of creating a Mental Performance program for a professional soccer team. While it’s such an exciting role and I love the work – the nebulousness of how that even fits in a well-established club feels formidable.
I have had (and continue to have) so many mentors in my life. I am so grateful for leadership in almost all of the endeavors I attempt. For much of my life, I have been thrusted into leadership positions (I can go into the depths of the reasons in another post) so to feel so “behind” has been uncomfortable at best and feels shameful at its worst.
This year I am giving myself grace and space now that I feel I am growing little roots after athlete retirement. I am still attempting to tackle my inbox (the compounding effects still mystify me) and know that I am moving toward mentorship and leadership from a place that is grounded rather than assumed.
As athletes, we perform at least twice. Once, in our sport and the second, on how we try to be perceived. As non-athletic regular people (NARPs), we perform exponentially more. At our jobs, in our relationships, when we intersect with our neighbors, at the grocery store, as well as in public. If you are one of the few folks that finds yourself in both of these categories – it feels unmanageable.
So while I am trying something new – a little more transparency along with a little more effort since I can feel I have just that little bit more in the tank – I can’t wait to share all of the performances that 2026 will bring.
And know if there is a time I go quiet, or the response feels like it’s taking forever. I am still here! I am still working! I just feel like I lost my footing and will need to get grounded again.
This year, for a variety of reasons is about momentum. But momentum needs stability. Velocity can only accelerate with gravity. And while I am on the ground, I am moving forward.
Thank you always for your love and support.
L.
Lacey Henderson 
Lacey, Great to hear about your new adventure. In college I had a literature professor who was fond of saying, “No struggle, no life.” That has stuck with me all these years.
The challenges never end. Good luck!
Woody Deitrich M73 masters track & field (we met at the 5280 Challenge)
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