Recommended Soundtrack: Free Your Mind by En Vogue
I don’t remember exactly when I realized I was at higher risk of COVID 19 complications than others my age. Sleep apnea, asthma, high blood pressure, and weight are all factors in folks outcomes. As a result I got quite risk averse in the summer and as it turned to fall the second wave started. I didn’t ride my bike outside. When restrictions loosened in my community I kept my own restrictions in place.
This awareness of my own vulnerability and that of people I know & love really impacted me. It shook free the last bits of invulnerability I had left.
That vulnerability feels at odd with how incredibly resilient you and I have been. If you told me last March I would work from home for a year and do it well I would have laughed. Not possible! Nope! Me? Arguably the most social person on the planet, working AT HOME ALONE? Unfathomable, yet that’s exactly what I’m doing.
We’ve experienced loss of loved ones, friends, and anticipate more loss. Economic impacts, the loss of social rituals, group activities…
And yet, there are so many things we’ve learned this year and changed. From hand washing and social distancing to the benefits/limits of technology to connect us.
I learned I can stick to an exercise routine and dial in my nutrition. Working at home and not going out with friends brought those two components into sharp focus.
I’ve learned I can walk more, stretch more, sleep better, and be more present in my life. That’s mighty powerful stuff.
The upheaval of the year and my responses to it have made me realize something profound about self imposed limits, especially around fitness.
By reflecting on all I learned and what I’ve changed, I realized it’s time to let those limits go. It’s humbling and scary to realize there are a great many things I can do when I need to.
So while I’m cleaning up from the holidays I’m packing up old ideas of constraints and limits. Yes. There’s risks and vulnerability and things I need to do to be safer during a global pandemic. There’s also a whole lot of potential to do radically different things. New scripts. New connections. New ways of moving through the world. Most importantly, new priorities.
I don’t know how this ruminating will impact how &. when I move my body but I’ll be sure to share where I’m at in January.
For now I’m feeling hopeful and confident in facing the coming weeks. After all, looking back over the year, I dealt with a lot and am the better for it.
I don’t know if I’ve told you this before but you’ve been inspirational on the work from home front. Also, I love your listening suggestions that go with posts.
Awe! Thank you! Working from home has been a huge change and I’m so glad my writing about it has been helpful. The music was a thing I copied from a book called The Anticraft. It has drink, music and maybe reading suggestions to go with each craft? I wanted a way to set the tone as folks settle into the post. Also to remind myself to have some fun!
I am a very social introvert. I do love the work from home shift, but I have had to ensure I still have occasional interaction with people or I start to get a bit low.
I continue to struggle with fitting in yoga and exercise. Somehow I move from bed to desk to couch. Everything else comes and goes.
Perhaps acknowledging this is it will be helpful! My joints are stiffening!
Thank you for the perspective!
Anne