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Arrow Liver: Rachel Lowell

May 17, 2017 by Kendall Johnson in Tips & Tools

Let me introduce you to ArrowLiver, Rachel Lowell. I met Rachel after a Thorns FC game in our autograph line. Fans often ask us to sign scarfs, roster pamphlets, and jerseys, but Rachel had printed off the Arrow Living logo and quote. Later that night, she sent me an email. Here’s a portion of it:

“I also just gotta say thank you so much for creating the Arrow Living podcasts and the idea behind it, your podcasts and motto of Arrow Living single handedly kept me somewhat sane and also motivated me throughout my concussion recovery.

And I listened to the first podcast and my mindset towards my concussion and really life in general was completely changed- it put my injury in perspective, I realized that if you could get through a concussion as bad as yours then I could get through a mild concussion. And the quote also helped me realize that this injury wasn’t necessarily a terrible thing- I was capable and I had the opportunity to turn such a setback into a positive and productive experience.

And so I snuck my laptop into my room and printed off the quote and your logo and taped it up above my bed as a constant reminder that this wasn’t the end of the world and that i had to keep aiming towards my goals rather than giving up all hope and so I started doing a lot of thinking and planning.

Even though I’m being pulled backward, you have inspired me to create daily plans and to start doing the little things, so when I return I feel and hope that I’ll be better able to help my team reach something great.”

I asked Rachel what her instagram handle was so I could tag her in this post, and she responded that she doesn’t have one because she listened to the EP 10 Interview with Emily Menges, when Emily mentioned why she deactivated hers, and it resonated.

This is why I play. Rachel is an #ArrowLiver.

Do you have any friends who are Arrow Livers?  Friends who have endured setbacks but make the most of them? If so, tag them in the comments!
P.S.  Anyone dealing with concussion symptoms check out Headway Foundation, a nonprofit run by athletes that offers the best concussion resources and support.

May 17, 2017 /Kendall Johnson
arrow liver, female athletes, inspiration, kendall johnson, Portland Thorns, soccer
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Praise

“There isn’t anything Kendall does without pouring everything she has to offer into it. She cares enough to not be scared to say what you might not always want to hear. She’s already been a great mentor. She is someone I admire so much. She doesn’t make excuses and will achieve what she is after.”
— Allie Long, USWNT World Cup Champion
“Few people have positively impacted me on or off the field as much as Kendall. She has a unique ability to help elevate all of the lives she comes in contact with. Through her own pursuits, triumphs, and trials, she has accumulated a wealth of different approaches to professional and personal growth. It is impossible to spend time with her and not walk away as a better version of yourself.”
— Michelle Betos, NWSL Goalkeeper of the Year
“In the world of professional athletes, you are surrounded by self-motivated people who are all working to a varying degree of “obsessive” to push themselves as hard and far as they can physically, mentally, and psychologically go. This doesn’t even begin to describe Kendall’s approach to all aspects of life. She lets nothing slip through the cracks and has a natural ability to put her passion to practice. Anyone who sits down in a conversation with Kendall will leave smarter, challenged, and with their perspective on life considerably altered.”
— Emily Menges, NWSL Champion
“I met Kendall at a challenging time in my life, and from the start, I felt comfortable sharing those challenges with her. After I first opened up to her about it, it was easy from then on out because she always helped me see my feelings are valid; my experiences and my story are my own, and I can make them to be what I want. She helped me find the beauty in times of struggle and she somehow managed to respond to my life hurdles, and her own, with an open mind and a good laugh. She has helped me to believe life works for us, not against us, and my life has become better for that. She is an amazing teacher.”
— EJ Proctor, Duke goalkeeper
“I have played soccer almost my entire life, and something that I have always struggled with is my mindset and confidence. As someone who strives to train, play, and perform at the highest level all of the time, it is very frustrating to be set back by my tendency to let my mind get in the way of my play. My goal is to play soccer at the highest level possible–to be recognized as a top player at Kentucky, play professionally, and compete on the national team. I have tried many mental techniques surrounding my game in order to help maintain a steady mindset throughout my seasons, but I have struggled to find strategies that are the best fit for me. 

I have calls with Kendall very consistently and she always creates a space that makes me feel completely at ease and comfortable to share whatever is on my mind. Something that I really appreciate about talking with her is that she really wants to know and learn about me as a person, and we never immediately get into the soccer portion of the call. It is really comforting to know that I always have someone as knowledgeable and thoughtful as Kendall to talk to about the highlights and setbacks of my life and soccer journey, and I feel really confident in my future plans after talking with her. Not only do I feel like I am doing everything I possibly can to accomplish my goals as a result of the training schedule that we often work on together, but we also discuss and build upon different approaches to improve my mindset, such as journaling, visualization, mental plans and steps going into training, and morning routines.

I have learned so much from Kendall and have felt such a big difference in my confidence not only as a player, but also as a person. I have grown to trust my own voice and opinion on another level, as well as increasing my confidence in my knowledge and preparation. I have seen such a big difference in my mental and physical space as a whole and I always look forward to our next call. Thank you so much Kendall, I cannot express how much I appreciate all of the time, effort, support, and thoughtfulness you put into and bring to every one of our calls!”
— Elle, University of Kentucky commit

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