Episode 361: Olivia Foli’s Life Updates as a College Student Athlete, Part II
Episode Notes
Olivia Foli, our daughter, entered the fall of 2022 as a Junior at UW-Madison with an intermittent debilitating nerve issue she first noticed in mid-July. By October, she had to alter her training schedule. Her rowing coaches amassed a team of sports trainers, medical and specialized doctors, chiropractors, and therapists to determine what was causing this burning nerve and skin pain in her upper back. Olivia was suddenly put in charge of her mental and physical well-being for the first time. Please find out how she managed.
After seven months of tests and trying all kinds of therapies, her sports medicine team is still determining an exact diagnosis. They went through the six common rowing injuries ruling them out one by one. Lumbar back pain, no. Shoulder impingement, no. Stress fracture of the ribs, no. Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome, no. Extensor Tenosynovitis of the wrist, no. Hip labral tears, nope.
From all the information gathered, they think the nerve pain stems from a Costovertebral Joint Dysfunction or Shingles. Olivia is experiencing a complication from Shingles called Postherpetic Neuralgia because it has lasted for many months. Most people know that Shingles come from the chickenpox virus, which added to the mystery circling the diagnosis because Olivia had the chickenpox vaccine, and most people who get Shingles are over 60 years old.
This was the first time Matthew and I weren’t directly involved in meeting the team to help her get a diagnosis and treatment for the burning nerve pain. Getting information second-hand, even when it is accurately told and with a team that Olivia trusts, evokes worrisome emotions as a parent. Doing our research gave us more information and added to our concerns. Part of the maturation process we hadn’t anticipated was Olivia managing a chronic injury and the accompanying generalized anxiety.
We’ve had a pretty good run, this being her first injury. I thought to myself, of course, the first injury is complicated and can’t easily be fixed. Isn’t that how it often goes? At some point, whatever we get into, our mental and physical selves are stretched to their capacity. Our psyche collapses, and we build anew learning more about ourselves and those around us creating something different than we imagined, a better more meaningful life. Olivia realized she has a fantastic support team that extends beyond the family. In life, it is essential to be circled by people you trust and respect and who care about you and you about them.
We are embracing resiliency and will keep you posted on how this spring’s rowing season goes. I am so impressed with our youth and a huge thank you to Olivia’s coaches and sports medicine team. They are team awesome!
Olivia’s 21st Birthday Celebration with Friends: Aubrey, Helena, Kelly, Grace, and Kirsty
Listen in and discover how Olivia’s life unfolds as a 21-year-old and her plans for this next phase of being a college student athlete. DOWNLOAD
NEXT STEP After Listening: Challenge yourself and do the Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring (C.A.L.M.) Activities, below. 
Conscious Attentive Leadership Mentoring
After listening, do these three C.A.L.M. Activities:
- Take this risk or do this adventurous task: Talk with three of our youth in their late teens and twenties that you know. Ask them what activities inspire them and bring them joy. Let the conversation expand from there. This isn’t a teachable moment but a time to learn more about them by listening deeply.
- Apply Self-Compassion: Notice how you felt before, during, and after the three conversations with someone you know in their teens and early twenties. Were you energized or surprised by what you discovered about them? How did it feel to listen deeply?
- Welcome Appreciation: “I am so impressed with our youth and a huge thank you to Olivia’s coaches and sports medicine team. They are team awesome! I appreciate Olivia and who she is. I appreciate how she learns from her mistakes, follows through on commitments, and weighs each decision. This year Olivia’s confidence increased as she has taken charge of her mental and physical well-being. I appreciate her joy, spunk, and commitment to meeting her needs and living courageously. I appreciate our frequent heart conversations that strengthen our connection and how she knows when she needs help. Meeting your needs inspires hopefulness and a zest for life like nothing else. Olivia is cherished, seen, heard, and deeply loved. Thank you, Olivia, for being you and taking risks to become a beautiful, wise, and compassionate human being. Keep refining your gifts and plugging them into wherever you are. Continue being a great friend and inspiration, smart in navigating our complicated world, and present in meeting your needs while showing self-compassion and compassion toward others.”
Your Turn. Start with, “I appreciate what I heard from today’s Guest Mentor, Olivia Foli. I appreciate this week’s adventurous task because….”
“Most of the problems in our lives and world are caused by relational dysfunction, a dysfunction in how we relate: as social groups, as individuals, to animals and the environment, and even to ourselves. Therefore, developing relational literacy—the understanding of and ability to practice healthy ways of relating—is essential for personal, social, and ecological transformation.” —Melanie Joy, psychologist, author, theorist, educator
When WeMentor… your life becomes more meaningful!!! Redefine how you lead while redesigning your business. Dual Innovation Leadership WORKS.
Podcast Guest Mentor
Olivia Foli.
Olivia Foli is the daughter of Nancy Meyer and Matthew Foli. She is in her junior year of college at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, studying psychology and Spanish with a minor in women and gender studies. Outside of her commitments at school, she loves reading, playing violin, running, nordic skiing, and using her Spanish.
Olivia is in her 2nd year with the Women’s Lightweight Crew team. She joined the University Orchestra for one year. She is also a research assistant in the Learning and Transfer Psychology Lab on campus.
Olivia spent that last two summers working at Mis Amigos Spanish Immersion Preschool in Golden Valley, MN. She worked with the executive team and in the classroom. She hopes to pursue an internship in Spain through the study abroad program.
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Episode 361: Olivia Foli’s Life Updates as a College Student Athlete, Part II
Author: Nancy A. Meyer, M.A.
Nancy A. Meyer, M.A., is a seasoned entrepreneurial leader, business and life mentor/coach/teacher, podcaster, author, and certified mindfulness yoga and meditation integrator (she integrates those skill sets into everything). Nancy’s compassionate and collaborative approach reinforces resilience while maintaining accountable conversations supporting how you redefine your lead while redesigning your business. Nancy calls this “Dual Innovation Leadership.” Nancy founded WeMentor, inc. in 1992 to change the leadership in our country by providing emerging and existing business owners with mentoring in Dual Innovation Leadership. She has mentored thousands and is eager to work with you! Assert self-leadership and get started today! Clients say, “Nancy is a compelling, engaging, and ‘decipher the trees from the forest’ kind of mentor, speaker, and leader. A dedicated entrepreneurial leader and mentor who role models what she preaches. Her style and candor enrich the content she delivers and the results clients experience.” Nancy accepts people where they are while inspiring them to breakthrough into new dimensions: As an Entrepreneurial Leader (Innovator), As a Competent Business Owner (Practitioner) As a Mentor (Role Model) As a Spiritual Being and Self-Leadership Master! Start by subscribing to WeMentor Mondays with Nancy PODCAST. Join your peers and...
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