Flag football makes its Olympic debut at LA 2028, and Deliah Autry-Jones is working toward that stage as a member of Team USA Women's Flag Football. On this episode of Five Seats, Dr. Kelsy Vick sits down with Deliah to talk about how she got her seat at the table, the mental resilience it takes to compete at the elite level, and where women's flag football goes from here. Through CAMP13, she's also investing in the next generation of athletes.

We close, as always, with the five people Deliah would seat at her own dinner party: Simone Biles, for putting her mental health first and standing by that choice; Paige Bueckers, for playing with joy and still delivering in the big moments; Serena Williams, for choosing family on her own terms; Alex Morgan, for carrying women's soccer with grace; and her middle school self, who had no idea she'd grow into an athlete with an education and a voice.

Five Seats is a dinner party style interview series from By Maven Media, where ambitious women share how they earned their seat in the room and who they'd want at their own table. New episodes every Tuesday.

Connect with Deliah:

Camp 13: https://www.camp13.org/

Delilah’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenameisdeliah/

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This week, I'm bringing

you to a different table.

2

Welcome back to Wellness Fixes the Pod.

3

I'm your host, Dr.

4

Kelsey Vick, a board-certified orthopedic

doctor of physical therapy and a

5

women's health physical therapist If

you caught the bonus episode, you know

6

I just launched a new conversation

series called Five Seats Each

7

episode, I sit down with one woman

8

Who made space for herself in a room

that wasn't necessarily built for her

9

We talk about how she got

her seat at the table.

10

And at the end, she tells me the five

people she'd want seated at her own

11

The first three episodes came out

yesterday And I wanted you to hear them

12

right here so you get a little preview

13

Today, I'm sitting down with Dalia

Autry Jones, who plays on the US Women's

14

National Flag Football Team We get into

15

And the future of flag football

that she is an integral part of

16

five Seats has its own feed with

new episodes every Tuesday So if

17

you love this one, search Five

Seats wherever you're listening

18

Or find the link in the show notes below

19

In 2023, in the middle of

a tournament with Team USA

20

Delia hit a mental block so

big that her feet wouldn't move

21

That was the moment she realized

being an elite level female athlete

22

was bigger than just the physical

23

Dalia is a defensive back for Team USA

women's flag football team A two-time

24

world champion, a physical therapist,

and the founder of Camp Thirteen

25

helping to bring flag football

to the next generation

26

Today we get into the mental

training behind her game

27

From journaling to breathwork To the

mantras she uses before she lines up

28

The faith that keeps her grounded

29

How she's preparing for the LA 2028

Olympics and what it means to her to help

30

build flag football, the sport that helped

give her a voice for the next generation

31

Let's welcome Dalia to the dinner party

32

Kelsy: one assumption people make about

you as a female athlete, and what question

33

do you wish they'd ask you instead?

34

Deliah Autry-Jones: I would say that

every, you know, most people assume that

35

all we do is physically train, and I would

love to be asked more about ways that

36

I decompress, because burnout is real

37

Kelsy: So right back at you.

38

What are some of the ways that

you decompress, and how do you

39

fight back against that burnout?

40

What are some of your favorite

books or like, uh, themes of books?

41

Like, what, what do you enjoy reading?

42

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yeah, I'd say

my favorite series is Fourth Wing

43

or, like, the Empyrean series.

44

Yes.

45

Kelsy: Yes, mine too.

46

Mine too

47

Deliah Autry-Jones: I didn't realize

how much I loved it, but I've

48

always enjoyed, like, dystopian too.

49

So, like, Hunger Games, Divergent, were,

like, my favorite series growing up

50

or, like, when I read in high school.

51

So I'd say dystopian.

52

I'm really getting into

romantasy now and fantasy.

53

I started, A Court of and Roses, and

I'm on the fourth book now for that,

54

and I'm actually really enjoying it too.

55

But I hadn't really dabbled in

fantasy before I read Fourth Wing,

56

which is, you know, kinda, like,

on the very, like, cusp of fantasy.

57

So I'm really enjoying it.

58

And I love, I love, like,

romance, sports romance too

59

Kelsy: I love all of those, and

especially completely separate from,

60

like, your day-to-day life, right?

61

Something to sort of,

62

like, check out a little bit.

63

I wanted to touch on the dance part,

too, because I grew up as a gymnast, and

64

gymnastics is a very young sport, and so I

switched to, like, hurdles and volleyball

65

and track and cross-country and, uh, swim

team, and different sort of team sports.

66

And I feel like it's very interesting

that you go from a more artistic

67

side of, I guess, athletic ability

to something where people might

68

not quite understand the artistry.

69

So what role has that dance background

and, , you continuing to sort of,

70

, cross-train a little bit, even though you,

you probably don't even think about it

71

like that, it's more of that fun mental

reset, but what role has that dance

72

background played in your current sport?

73

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yeah.

74

Well, I actually do like to do it for

cross-training, like the cardio and all

75

of that, but it really is more of a,

like, kind of just to let my mind go.

76

I think with dance in general, , you

want your body to, like, move on

77

its own accord and, feel the music.

78

I think I know with flag football

sometimes, like, you're thinking so much

79

or, like, it's so detail-oriented that,

sometimes, especially, like, moments where

80

I'm feeling really rigid or, like, uh,

stiff and just, not really able to play

81

loose, I'll go to a dance class because it

just allows my body to move how it moves.

82

So in that sense, it's,

helping me stay loose.

83

But I think the other thing is, like,

core and balance and coordination, that's

84

all really important and, especially as

a defensive player, your footwork is your

85

most important part, and, I have seen how

it translates to the flag football field

86

Kelsy: I love that.

87

So switching back to flag football,

88

and now you've got two world titles

89

Was your seat on that team

given, earned, or built?

90

Deliah Autry-Jones: Definitely

earned, probably built before that.

91

I came onto the scene and

nobody knew who I was.

92

I kind of built my name, and I've

always been like the underdog, so

93

I have lived by that and -- I've

been fueled by that for a long time.

94

And so I feel like I had to build my name

and my reputation and then build like

95

that level of respect from other players.

96

And now I feel like it's earned because

I've been on the national team for

97

years and years now, and every year

have to earn the position by continually

98

increasing my training intensity

and what I'm doing for my body to

99

prepare for tryouts and competition

100

Kelsy: Both physically

and mentally too, right?

101

Like, I feel like you've probably

been able to sort of tweak that

102

throughout the years where, as you

said initially, one of the assumptions

103

is that it's all physical training.

104

But you also have a mental resilience

component that needs to happen,

105

and I'm sure that's been fine-tuned

throughout the years as well

106

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yes, and that's

actually something I didn't pay attention

107

to when I first joined the team, and

then I quickly learned that with, you

108

know, playing for the national team comes

a lot of pressure, and that was making

109

me feel like an imposter, not feeling

like I deserved to be on the team.

110

So the last couple years, of course,

like everybody's training physically,

111

doing what they need to do, but I started

working with a sports psychologist and a

112

mental health therapist to make sure my

mind was right because I've had moments

113

in my career as a football player where

I literally, like my feet just wouldn't

114

move because I had this really big mental

block, and it was in that moment, and

115

actually that moment was like specifically

116

It was in that moment where

I was like, "Man, this is so

117

much bigger than physical."

118

I really have to be mentally prepared

to handle all of this and be able

119

to bounce back during the games

120

Kelsy: So what did your mental

training look like before that?

121

I know you've mentioned 2024 was

one of your highlight seasons, just

122

because you did feel like you came

in not only physically prepared,

123

but also mentally prepared as well.

124

So what did that sort of mental

resilience and grit look like after

125

that period where you actually sought

out, , the professional expertise

126

to get you to that point compared

to what it was like before that?

127

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yeah, I would

say for me the biggest thing

128

was like pre-game preparation.

129

So a lot of studying, one, and trusting

in what I've prepared on paper, like

130

film-wise, so like knowing my opponent.

131

But then also the other part of it

is for me, I need to be with nature.

132

Like I need to do something that allows

my mind to shut down and just be quiet

133

before I play, so I'm not going into

games overthinking, overanalyzing.

134

And then the other thing is journaling.

135

So for me, I like to avoid or push

off feelings, especially big feelings.

136

So really writing it on paper

and just like legitimizing how

137

I'm feeling and acknowledging the

feelings and understanding that it's

138

not a bad thing to feel nervous or

anxious, but you know, in the moment,

139

how do I get myself out of that?

140

So a lot of that pre-game and then

in games for me, learning those quick

141

affirmations or quick sayings that will

get me out of whatever slump I have.

142

Like on defense, things happen, right?

143

So plays are made, there's really good

receivers out there, so I've had to

144

learn like ways to bounce back faster.

145

And then the last thing

is breathing techniques.

146

So I come back to those when I'm

feeling super anxious before a game.

147

So a lot of the time we're about to,

line up to play, I will do some like box

148

breathing because it calms my nervous

system and I'll add in a prayer with

149

it too, and then my one or two like

affirmations, like I'm prepared, I know

150

what I'm doing, inhale belief, exhale

like doubt, all those little things

151

that have helped me just flip the switch

152

Kelsy: So let's get super tactical too.

153

What does getting out in nature look

like for you, especially pre-game?

154

And I know not all the time

you're in your home environment.

155

A lot of the times you're traveling.

156

So what does that actually look like?

157

And then what are a few of those

different mantras or things

158

that you tell yourself in-game?

159

And you've mentioned some,

post-game too, but what does that

160

actually look like for you from,

like, a super tactical standpoint?

161

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yeah.

162

So I'd say what I like to do, a

morning walk with some calming music.

163

because I'm just an anxious person

in general, and I'm like my nervous

164

system's always upregulated, and I'm

always like, "What's the next thing?"

165

So like calming music, going on a walk,

seeing the like green and the grass, and

166

then too like touching the grass, you

know, like grounding physically, standing

167

on the grass in my socks or barefoot.

168

And then I do a little bit of meditation

in the grass too, where I'm like sitting

169

in the grass listening to, something.

170

I actually had like a meditation script

of my own voice telling me my favorite

171

quotes and scriptures and all of that.

172

And tied that in with some like

visualization of me, stepping onto the

173

field, making plays, all that stuff.

174

So a lot of that has helped.

175

and then if I have time and have access,

like even I'll go on a walk with my

176

husband or my, my mom or dad, somebody

that I'm tied close to, understands, know,

177

the buildup leading to the competition.

178

Like having that additional piece helps

too, like s- keep me grounded essentially.

179

Kelsy: I love that.

180

One of my own mantras, you mentioned

earlier, the breathe in, uh, I

181

forgot what your first word was.

182

Mine's breathe in faith, - exhale fear.

183

Like breathe in faith, exhale fear.

184

Breathe in trust, exhale fear.

185

So, uh, I really resonate with some of

the mantras that you said earlier too, and

186

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yes.

187

mine is inhale belief, exhale

doubt, inhale confidence, exhale,

188

uh, fear, and then I will say

I'm prepared because I always…

189

That's what I focused on this past

season was I study a lot, I train a lot.

190

I have to now just trust that all

the things I did leading up to

191

this will show when it needs to

192

Kelsy: It's something that I

feel like I need a constant

193

reminder of just in my own life.

194

Like, I trust my preparation.

195

I,

196

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yes

197

Kelsy: both of us, I know we, we bonded

over both being physical therapists.

198

It's like, how much do we prepare

for those practicals, you know?

199

And

200

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yes.

201

Kelsy: overprepare and really

just try to, to nail it down?

202

And honestly, it, with as much as both

of us probably prepared for those, it

203

didn't necessarily foster this sense of

self-trust because we were like, "Okay, if

204

we can overprepare, I don't have to rely

on, you know, what is within me," Where

205

now I'm sort of trying to retrain that.

206

Like, "Kelsey, it's okay.

207

Like, you've had these years of practice"

and whatever the, the behavior is, whether

208

it's physical therapy, whether it's

athletics, whether it's, you know, no

209

matter what it is, it's like, okay, now I

need to trust my preparation before this.

210

I don't need to anxiety

overprepare for something.

211

I've, I've built these capabilities

up, and I fine-tuned them.

212

And, we also both bonded over our faith,

so also knowing, like, I'm gonna get me

213

so far, and then, you know, God's gonna

be able to take care of the rest, too

214

Deliah Autry-Jones: Exactly.

215

Yes, and you make a good point, too.

216

Like, I've had to find the balance

between, preparation and truly, like,

217

just trusting in my own instincts and

athleticism, because I've had that,

218

you know, that issue too, where,

like, I over-prepare, I overwhelm

219

myself, over-analyze, and then I

can't play because I've got this

220

mental block of, man, I can't even

see what's happening in front of me.

221

I don't trust my feet because

my brain's not processing.

222

It's honestly still, like, a battle

that I'm trying to figure out, is,

223

like, how much do I trust in my

pre-game preparation versus, like,

224

truly just trusting in my own body and

my ability to, like, make those plays?

225

And it's the same in real life, right?

226

Like, you prepare on paper, but in

the, in the moment, like, can I think

227

on my feet and be able to adjust?

228

Kelsy: And adapt and, yeah, it, it applies

in both sport and life, which I love, too.

229

I admire just how you approach your sport

in general, just, like, hard work, effort,

230

and how open you are about your mental

health and the need for mental performance

231

training and even how outspoken you

are about your just, like, dreams

232

and goals that you have for yourself.

233

But then of course, as we've

touched on, I love how outspoken

234

you are about your faith.

235

And I mentioned to you when I reached

out that as a young female athlete,

236

I didn't necessarily have those role

models to look up to because of, A,

237

social media not being as prevalent

probably at that time, too, but also

238

because I don't know if there was ever

that many female athletes who were so

239

outspoken about their Christian faith.

240

And so I really admire that you do

talk about it and that you do use

241

it as part of your own sort of,

like, preparation and training.

242

So what role does your faith play

in how you approach flag football?

243

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yeah, I would

say I've never really had a, a role

244

model athlete in that sense either.

245

I feel like maybe for a long time it was a

little scary for people to talk about like

246

religion and politics and all of that.

247

, But I come from a Christian family,

like my grandma, my mom, my dad,

248

like my dad's dad was a pa- a pastor.

249

So I've been around God, and I think I say

anything, like faith is, know, relevant

250

to the person, so I- it's something

that I've always tried to make clear.

251

Like I believe in God, I believe

in what he can do for me and my

252

family, but that is my belief and

you can believe what you want.

253

So I try to do it in like a

graceful way, but I realize that

254

God had been such a important

factor in my flag football career.

255

When I think back to when I first

started playing, I have always been

256

anxious and like a perfectionist, and

I started playing in high school and

257

I became really good at the sport and

had no idea that was gonna happen.

258

End up being the quarterback of the

team and I was like, man, that's a lot.

259

You know, a huge role to take on.

260

And, uh, before big games, my mom

actually wrote down, I think it was

261

maybe three scriptures, and was like,

"Just read these before your game."

262

And there was one scripture

that I like have attached to.

263

I have it tattooed on my arm

and it's, 31:6 and it says,

264

"Be strong and courageous.

265

Do not be afraid, for the

Lord your God is with you."

266

And there was just something about that.

267

I used to read that with my coach

before my games in, , , high school,

268

and then I just carried that with me.

269

So I had my coach when I made Team USA

would read that with me and, and then

270

I look back and I'm like, , it's always

been God , in the sense of like the higher

271

power, having my back and at the end of

the day, like I can only do so much, but

272

it's up to him and what he's given me.

273

So I just like being able to lean on that

, and it helps keep me grounded as well.

274

So I've just been very open and outspoken

about there being like, you know,

275

something to look forward to, some person

to look forward to, to make things happen

276

when you are at a crossroads or, you know,

and are in difficult times or where you're

277

just like asking for an opportunity.

278

And there's been so many examples

in my life where he's done that for

279

me that I just can't help but be

thankful and vocal about everything

280

Kelsy: It inspires me too because

I relate it back to just some

281

high-pressure moments in my life.

282

And even starting out, this is so silly

to, to bond over this again, but as a

283

physical therapist, it's like early on

in your career, you take it to heart

284

when you can't help someone in the

way that you want to help them, right?

285

Like, if they're not better in that,

you know, initial visit, it really

286

weighs on you as a new little PT.

287

And so I used to say, you know,

"I can only take them so far.

288

God, God takes care of the rest," right?

289

Like, "God, use my hands, use my

knowledge, use my brain, use, use

290

whatever you've given me to, to help me

get them to a point that they need to

291

get to for you to work in their lives

in the way that you're working in it."

292

And sometimes that's not always the case.

293

Like, you know, sometimes there's

a bigger story behind it where I'm

294

like, "I wish I knew right now why

you were having this pain and why

295

you're experiencing this injury."

296

I've worked with a lot of athletes

too, and it's like your story's bigger

297

than that, and my hope is that they

have a faith to grasp onto for that.

298

But that's sort of how I've been able

to ease some of my own, like, anxieties

299

and, just sort of like beating myself

up a little bit if I'm not able to

300

perform, you know, as a physical

therapist in the way that I wanna perform.

301

So I guess mirroring that in athletics

is, um, cool to hear, like, how

302

you approach it and then how vocal

you are about it, knowing that it's

303

nice to have that role model for,

for other young, , female athletes.

304

S- so as you've said,

you've earned this seat.

305

So since you've earned it, what

is one rule you've followed to

306

get to where you are today and

one rule you've refused to follow?

307

, Deliah Autry-Jones: I'd say rule

I've followed to this day is

308

definitely effort over everything.

309

I think, and I tell kids this too

when I coach, you can work with

310

effort and attitude and take that far.

311

So that'll, that will help you mold

into the athlete that you want to be

312

because those are those, like, things

that are only controlled by you.

313

So, you know, as you get to the more elite

level, you control what you can control.

314

And one thing that I've always

focused on, even since I was a kid,

315

is like, how, you know, how hard do

I go and how passionate do I play?

316

And I want that to be, like,

what people remember me by.

317

And I'd say a rule I don't follow is,

get in where you fit in, in the sense of,

318

Create your space.

319

Like, make your presence known,

be unconventional, and be

320

extraordinary in your own way

and just, like, say, "I'm here."

321

Like, get out my way

and create your own path

322

Kelsy: I had a interview, gosh, I

believe it was last week, and she was

323

saying, , one of the mentors she had

in her life gave her the same advice,

324

is like, "Don't try and show up in

a room different than who you are

325

because someone else needs to see you

in that room showing up as, as your

326

full self, whatever that is," you know?

327

So I love that, and it's so true.

328

I mean, as girls, I, I also feel

like, too, growing up, you, you

329

try and fit a certain mold, and

you try and put on certain masks.

330

But then as you age, you're really like,

"No, I'm great the way that I am", and

331

Deliah Autry-Jones: Yes

332

Kelsy: would be so, you know,

dumbfounded by where she is today, right?

333

Like all of these things,

you're like, "Why did I ever

334

try and hide that part of me?"

335

So I love that you, you talk about

paving your own path, and I think

336

that's exactly what you've done, too.

337

Even, you know, you haven't

necessarily gotten to where you are

338

today on a very traditional path.

339

Number one, because I also feel

like this sport is just now becoming

340

that much more popular, and , you're

sort of riding that, too, right?

341

Like you're, what's the quote, building

the plane while you're flying it.

342

Like you're part of that, right?

343

Which I love.

344

So talking about flag football and

the past of flag football and the

345

future, especially looking to LA

346

What are you, like, super pumped

to witness and, and be a part of

347

in the future of flag football,

especially flag football for women?

348

, Deliah Autry-Jones: I think what

excites me the most is the hope i-

349

around, like, being able to play

this sport at the highest level.

350

Like, it gives every young female

athlete something to look forward to,

351

but, like, at every single level, right?

352

If you're a kid, you wanna make

the junior national team, you

353

wanna make your high school team.

354

If you're a high school athlete, now you

can get a scholarship and an education

355

by playing flag football, right?

356

If you're in college, you

wanna make it to the Olympics.

357

If you're an adult, you

wanna play in the Olympics.

358

Like, there's just something at every

level now that allows you to, , dial

359

in , and change your lifestyle or

adjust it however you need to get

360

to this, , super cool experience.

361

And seeing, like you said, seeing

flag football just rise and change in

362

real time it's a privilege, honestly.

363

It allows everybody to find their own

space within the sport because there are

364

no, like, there's no barriers or, like,

you know, boxes right now, and people

365

are able to, show their personalities

and who they are in the sport, and that's

366

what flag football is about, and I think

that's why so many girls and women have

367

become so, like, emotionally tied to it,

because it's allowing me to grow as a

368

person and be comfortable in my own skin.

369

So that's what I'm really excited about,

just, like, opportunities and, and hope

370

Kelsy: I know you've said it's

also helped give you a voice.

371

What do you mean when you say that?

372

What voice has flag football been able

to give you that you might not have

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been able to find in something like

dance or another part of your life?

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, Deliah Autry-Jones: I think with flag

football having so much attention

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and energy on it there is this…

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I don't know, there's people that

are coming to you as a, you know,

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a veteran player or somebody

who's experienced in the sport and

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saying , "What do we do from here?"

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And just being able to know that

your hands and your mind are

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directly shaping the future for

the girls to come after you.

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It's empowering, and it also makes me

feel like I have a responsibility to like

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the future of the sport, which is scary,

but also really cool because especially

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with my background and, you know, our

background as a physical therapist,

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I'm now pulling in so many different

avenues of what needs to be done to

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professionalize a sport from like an

injury prevention standpoint, and like

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women and girls understanding their cycles

and how that affects training, right?

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There's so much more education

behind it now because there's no

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limitations on, where the sport's

gonna go and how you can shape it.

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And being able to like be at the

forefront of that, it has allowed me

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to just, be very open and vocal about

what I think needs to change based off

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of what I've experienced, to be honest

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I would say right now I'm

building a l- legacy, I guess.

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I don't really care to be remembered

as, a super phenomenal player.

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that's a product of how hard I work.

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I want to be remembered for, you

know, leaving an impact, positive

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impact on the sport, and really,

like, the girls to come after me.

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I was raised by a village of

people and was given opportunities,

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and, like, transformed into,

this outspoken, confident person.

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I was not like that as a kid.

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I was super anxious, perfectionist,

like, shy, all the things.

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So just knowing that I have

the opportunity to pull some of

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those girls up and, help them,

like, find themselves is…

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I mean, it's inspiring to me, so

I'm really excited about that.

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Kelsy: And you've built

something specifically for

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that next generation, Camp 13.

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Deliah Autry-Jones: Yeah, so

Camp 13 started as like an idea

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of, , giving back to my community.

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Like I said, I was like a tomboy.

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I was in every sport growing

up, but I also came from like a

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pretty low socioeconomic status,

like background and all that.

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So I went to a rec center

where my mom worked.

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Grew up just like getting into

whatever they wanted us to do.

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My mom and dad were like, "You're

gonna play something year-round.

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Like, you're not sitting in the house."

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So I worked at that rec center from the

moment I graduated high school until I

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had to leave for physiotherapy school,

and I was like, man, , what an impact.

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And I wanted to give back, so I came

back , from school and started working

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as a PT in Tampa, and I went to the City

of Tampa Parks and Rec Department where

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I grew up and was like, "Here's my idea.

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, I just want kids who don't have

the resources to have access

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to this super awesome sport.

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, Can I run some camps in the summer?

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The kids are already there.

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, You just bus them to one location.

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It's free.

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I'll give out school

supplies, all that stuff.

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I just want them to like fall in

love with the sport the way I did."

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So it started as that, and has

morphed into this really cool

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passion project that I hope to make

like my entire life a couple years.

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So within that, I do a lot of empowering

and mentorship and teaching girls

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about their bodies and, you know,

how to safely play the sport, how

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to be in tune with yourself s- how

to mentally prepare and handle and

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prevent burnout and all of that.

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And it's really become something

that feels so natural to me because

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it's everything that I'm passionate

about and everything that I

436

wish I learned as a young player

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Kelsy: It combines, like, every

single part of you, which is why

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I'm doing this series anyways.

439

I love when women don't stay in one lane,

and you are, like, the definition of that.

440

But the fact that you're able to combine

all of these things and sort of align

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it with, , this bigger purpose for

your life, I, I keep telling people,

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like, I feel aligned, and I see that

in you, too, with, with what you're

443

doing with Camp13, which is awesome.

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So before we end with our final

segment, I wanna ask, how are you

445

thinking about your mental preparation

going into a possible home Olympics?

446

Like, LA 2028 at home, I feel like

that's all of the hype that surrounds it.

447

It's gonna be a new sport in the Olympics.

448

There's gonna be so much hype

around it, being also on home turf.

449

So how do you think about

that going into these next few

450

years preparing for LA 2028?

451

, Deliah Autry-Jones: I would say I think

I'm gonna shift my mental performance.

452

For the longest it was very much like

I have to f- get to this, like, very,

453

not dark, but, like, deep place where,

like, I'm playing with a little bit

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of, like, urgh, you know, like, rage.

455

And it served me well for a while, but now

I think I want to be, where my feet are.

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I wanna actually enjoy the moments and,

like, have fun and express myself and

457

be able to play loose and just, like,

the fact that I'm doing this, hopefully

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doing this thing that so many other

people wanna be doing on my home turf

459

with my family there, like, in front

of thousands and thousands of people.

460

So I think is, like, I'm

doing all the things on paper.

461

I'm doing everything physically

training and mentally training.

462

I just wanna be able to play free.

463

Like, I truly want to say, like, man,

this is so cool and, and so fun, right?

464

That's what flag football is about.

465

It's about enjoying yourself

and, like, expressing yourself.

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So I think I'm gonna shift and find

ways to, like, truly enjoy it, on

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a different level than I have been.

468

Kelsy: And being truly present too.

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It's hard.

470

It's a challenge.

471

But you've also put in, like, years

of years of , mental training to

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be able to get to the point by LA

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live where your feet are planted.

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So I love that answer.

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I love that goal.

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And this is where I'll leave you

for now because next up is the reason

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the entire series is named Five

Seats, where she tells us the five

478

people she'd seat at her own table

479

You can hear who she chose,

plus the rest of our time

480

together on the Five Seats feed

481

Search Five Seats wherever

you're listening or click the

482

link in the show notes below

483

New Five Seeds episodes every Tuesday,

but I'll also see you guys again on the

484

next episode of Wellness Big Sis the pod