Honoring the People Who Lift Us Up + A Holiday Pause

Every December, I’m reminded of something powerful:

For all the focus we place on performance, rankings, and outcomes…
it’s the people who shape an athlete’s journey the most.

The teammate who offers encouragement after a tough shift.
The coach who believes in a kid before they believe in themselves.
The athlete who leads with effort, kindness, and heart.

These are the people young athletes remember long after the season ends.
These are the people who influence their confidence, resilience, and joy in sport.

This month marks three years since the release of The Empowered Athlete — a book I wrote to help athletes build the inner foundation they need to navigate the highs, lows, and everything in between.

To celebrate, I created a special December opportunity:

• Teams that order books for their roster receive a private team training built around the tools in the book. 
• Families that purchase a 1:1 coaching session receive a signed copy of The Empowered Athlete.

With each of these purchases, the buyer can also nominate one person — an athlete, coach, parent, or teammate — who has made a meaningful impact this year.

From all of those nominations, I’ll be selecting one winner to receive an additional gifted signed copy in early January.

It’s a small way to celebrate the people who make youth sports what they are: a place for growth, belonging, and connection.

Taking a Holiday Pause

I often talk about the importance of rest — not just physical rest, but mental and emotional recovery too.

So from December 22 through January 4, I’ll be taking a short break to spend uninterrupted time with my family and recharge before the new year.

This pause allows me to return with clarity, groundedness, and new tools to support you and your athlete even more effectively.

What’s Coming When I Return

January is one of my favorite times to support athletes because it offers a natural reset point — a moment to look back with honesty and look ahead with intention.

When I return the week of January 5, I’ll be sharing:

• Year-end reflection prompts your athlete can use to understand their growth
  

• A simple intention-setting exercise to help them begin 2025 with clarity
  

• Gentle guidance for parents on how to support without overwhelming
  

• And the announcement of the gifted signed-copy winner
  

These tools are designed to help athletes anchor themselves mentally — building confidence that lasts long beyond the holiday season.

Wishing You a Warm, Restful Holiday Week

Whether your family is traveling, competing, resting, or simply slowing down — I hope this season gives you a moment to breathe and reconnect.

Thank you for inviting me into your athlete’s world this year.
It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly.

I’ll see you in the new year,
Danielle