Notes From the Field: Limits, or Lack Thereof

 

Erin Matson is a Tar Heel, world-class athlete, team player and champion. Here, in “Notes From the Field,” she’ll be sharing some of her thoughts in an ongoing series set to cover anything and everything on her mind. You can find the full series so far here, on Chapelboro.

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I feel like I’ve gained five years of wisdom over the span of the last four weeks.

I blinked, and all of the sudden I’m a Limited Liability Company, explaining to my boyfriend, Ben, how I need to keep a mileage log for tax write-offs come December, helping girls my age fill out W-9s after organizing and running two successful clinics in one day, and opening up a Shopify store featuring my brand … After coaching at the UNC Summer Camp, celebrating my teammate at her bridal shower, flying to Iowa to visit Ben on his away week, and playing in a tournament in Virginia Beach that ended last Friday. Your brain is supposed to feel scrambled after reading that, don’t worry.

Not at all saying my life is any more chaotic or hectic than others’. I just finally had time today to sit down and reflect on everything that’s happened this past month. Especially since this past weekend was what I’ve been working towards. Hey, July … what’d a girl ever do to you?!

This past Saturday, the first-ever sessions of ONE field hockey clinics took place for players of all ages and experience levels. We had girls come from Ohio, Massachusetts, northern New York, Virginia, Missouri, and we even had a family travel from Colorado. One of my current USA teammates and two of my current UNC teammates joined me to help coach, we had an autograph session at my equipment sponsor, ‘Longstreth’s’ warehouse, and my mom was able to experience it all with us. (If you know my dad, you can imagine how much it pained him to be at a conference for his job, but I still felt his passion and love for the sport and me!) But! The girls are what made it truly spectacular.

It will forever be one of the most memorable days of my field hockey career, shared with people I care about and young players that remind me of myself. They are the reason I’m able to do what I love.

I’ve said it many times, and I’ll say it again… My career has always had the concept of “inspiration” at its core. I’ve been inspired by countless individuals and moments, and I find it my job to make others feel the same sense of confidence in their ability to achieve their dreams. This isn’t anything new, people. Learning from my teammates and coaches to strive to be the best leader I can be. Working hard to set records for the next generation to break. Trying to make younger girls feel in their hearts there is nothing standing in their way — on the hockey pitch, and in life.

Everything I work for and share with others — from my Instagram, to the Rams Club column I was fortunate enough to write, even the “Notes From the Field” column you all read last week — I try to keep consistent. That’s why the backbone of my brand, ONE, has the same mission: “dedicated to inspiring others to reach their potential. To be happy and appreciate every moment, but push their limits to see how far they can take themselves. To help them realize… it’s farther than they think.”

So yes, I sit here, decompressing and giving you guys a brief “life-update” of one of the wildest months of my life culminating with one of the coolest weekends. But it is not meant to be taken as just that.

What I want to express is in flashes of, “What is going on,” “How is this all going to work,” and “There’s just no way,” the most impressive things can be accomplished. Especially if you have the mindset of wanting to make just one person’s life a little bit more special.

It is so refreshing to work towards something of your own, to put so much time and energy into making it how you imagined, and the result — the best part — seeing others enjoy every part of it. I know I’m not the only one who has felt this feeling, and it’s empowering.

The smiles, looks of pride and confidence, and memories made with numerous young girls this past weekend wouldn’t have been possible without the crazy mess life sometimes feels like. Seeing those genuine feelings of happiness and belief on other girls’ faces is what motivates me to chase my dreams and make sure they feel unapologetic in doing the same.

When we surprise ourselves with what we do, the more we realize our limits are, in fact, not limits at all.

So embrace the moments of chaos, the question marks, the long days of preparation, and the experiences a new week brings you. It’s all part of your bigger adventure. Who doesn’t leave an adventure inspired to see what’s next?

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