America has fallen completely in love with Alysa Liu. Her grace and ease as a skater won her the Gold at the 2026 Olympics. She is adorable—striped hair and all—and a real symbol of Oakland, a place she calls home, as the daughter of a Chinese immigrant.
Alysa’s early rise was fast and relentless. Training, travel, pressure — the full machine, always “on”. After her first Olympics in 2022, she fell out of love with skating and chose to walk away.
A lot of folks were shocked—why would a talented young Olympian leave at the top of her game? The answer—to experience her teenage years.
She got her driver’s license, went to concerts, went snowboarding and started college. She absolutely loved skiing—though a day trip to the mountains from Oakland is quite different than the ice rink—just 20 minutes away.
For most, our teenage years can be stressful, but she wanted her freedom and the chance to experience what the real life of a teenager was like.
Two years later, in 2024, she went back to skating, found her groove and enjoyed skating again. Not surprisingly, after many hours, days and months of practice, she got better at her skill. She was through her growth spurts. It’s no surprise that she felt more comfortable skating at 19 than at 16.
That comfort as a teen is remarkable—courageous—and fearless.
That kind of comfort is its own form of courage—not the loud kind.
The honest kind.
Though my mantra in high school was about courage, I would not have had the courage—nor the maturity—to leave it all behind.
I found my version of it later, when I left Cortland, New York, spread my wings, and headed to Washington, D.C. to build a life bigger than what I could see from home. I never looked back. And I’ve been reinventing myself ever since.
You can have courage or gain courage at any time.
You can explore your freedom—while still embracing your authenticity.
No matter how old or how young you are—it’s not too late to lean forward towards something that makes you thrive, peaceful, and exceptional. Treating yourself well, embracing opportunity, and surrounding yourself with people who bring out the best in you is a daily routine we should strive to embody.
It’s why I’m launching my new Purple Inspiration Podcast on March 25th—featuring remarkable women in business, non-profits, and politics.
So, what are you doing today to relaunch or rewire your brain?
Drop your comments in the chat.
Defy Divisiveness – Choose Purple.
A two-time appointee of the President of the United States, Judy Lloyd is the owner of Altamont Communications Strategies and the host of the new Purple Inspiration Podcast, launching March 25th!