Can pain and joy exist at the same time? ⠀ I have struggled with posting anything about soccer or my personal life after the mass shooting in Texas. 21 beautiful lives gone, 21 families devastated, communities changed forever. I don’t know why this is hitting me particularly hard but I do know those families are still mourning and lives will forever be changed. Maybe some will be able to find joy again, maybe some will not. ⠀ Then I look at my own life. And I ask myself what is this all for if you we can’t even protect each other. Knowing I am playing in front of kids with dreams of one day being a professional; I cannot help but feel pain and grief thinking of those who will not be able to watch their role models because of our messed up country. ⠀ But I think the only thing we can do is try and make this world a better place. Fight against gun policies and gun violence, fight for women’s rights, fight for gender, sexual orientation, and race equality. Make it okay for men to feel vul...