Life Update
It's been a hot minute (ok, this WHOLE YEAR!) since I last posted. I guess time flies when the world falls apart.....
2020 started out rocky in the first place for me. I was two weeks into training for the Boston Marathon (the first full week of January) when I tore several hip flexors and adductor muscles. I could barely walk for about 2 weeks, and it took 2 months for me to do any sort of lower body strength training or to sort of start running again. I took that time to swim with hand paddles and a buoy between my knees to take the legs out of the equation. Then, when I was able, I began to gently pool run, then cycle, then "run" on the elliptical machine. I'll talk about how I safely and successfully returned to running in another post because that deserves it's own focus.
Anyways, if you do the math, that's when the Covid pandemic began. I was just beginning to strength train again, so if you followed me on social media, I posted a lot of workouts you could do at home with little or no equipment or just using regular household items. It was pretty fun to be creative!
This year has absolutely been challenging in its own unique ways (which we could have NEVER guessed)! I've seen a lot of ugliness out there. But I've also seen a lot of GOODNESS - people looking out for others and getting groceries for those who can't/shouldn't go to the store. I've seen people knit together to support each other during isolation - calling, texting, making sure neighbors and friends and family are doing ok. It's been a really cool to see people band together in new ways to support each other. I've seen family time increase. I've seen family bonds be strengthened. I've seen simplicity take the place of complexity as we slow down and really focus on what is MOST important and what REALLY matters. I've seen more people out in nature - walking, biking, running, playing with family members, enjoying the great outdoors. Fortunately, I live in an area where we have instant access to lots of hiking and biking trails and we were not ordered to be shut up inside our homes all day and night. I feel for all the people who have been holed up inside an apartment and not able to get out.
During this time of constant change and uncertainty, let us go back to the BASICS.
Eat REAL food. Nourish your body and mind to stay healthy and be in a position to combat viruses and disease.
MOVE your body every day. Keep your heart, lungs, bones, muscles and immune system healthy and strong. Make it something you enjoy so you feel inspired to do it every day. If possible, get out in nature.
Spend TIME with loved ones - either in person or virtually. Get that connection so you don't feel so isolated.
Have a CAN DO ATTITUDE! It's amazing how simply reframing your mindset can completely shift your mood and your outlook on life. Easy? Not always. But 100% worth it for your body, mind, spirit, and relationships with others. Life is going to happen. It's sometimes (ok, often) out of our control. How you CHOOSE to view life can greatly impact your quality of life. There is SO much more I could say about this, but I'll save that for another post.
I hope you are doing well. I have some ideas for blog posts over the next few weeks, but PLEASE let me know what you'd like me to address or post about. I'm here to help you as best as I can and share what knowledge/insights I have learned over the years through both research and personal experience.
(AHHHHH! Writing this has made me realize how much I have missed writing!!!)
Keep smiling and keep on doing what you can.
XOXO,
Heidi
