The New NormaL

So, so, so much has happened in the last couple hours not to mention the last couple days. I’ve been wanting to write, but I’m having so much trouble wrapping my head around everything that’s been happening, every time I tried to sit down and write this post, I decided to sleep or watch/read something mindless instead to try and get a clearer head. I’ve realized it’s not going to get any clearer. What’s happening is unprecedented. In the past week, I’ve gone from trying to take big steps in the direction of my dreams to reading every single article and scientific analysis of the COVID-19 outbreak. I feel that it is of utmost importance to stay on top of the facts as this ever fluid situation unfolds. Get as much news as you can directly from verified sources so you can formulate educated opinions and make informed decisions. Our health as a world depends on it. I’ve been reading countless articles from The NY Times and listening to their podcasts (a couple very informative episodes of The Daily this past week) and I’m so grateful to all the journalists and scientists and experts who are working so hard to get the facts out there. 

If you’re getting overwhelmed by the magnitude of it all, stop. Breathe. Pet your dog. Hug your boyfriend. Get outside and go for a walk. This makes a HUGE difference and will help ground you in the present moment so you can come back to yourself. Take this time to journal, meditate, sit with your thoughts, and understand what is truly most important to you. As horrible as this situation is for so many, many reasons, I am grateful that it has shown me exactly what I value most and what is unnecessary in my life. I had already been going through a massive purge of my clothes / belongings (thanks, Marie Kondo!), and the Coronavirus is only making what I was already learning more clear. The rink closed on Thursday and my first thought was how sad I was that I wouldn’t be able to teach. I would no longer have access to those who are eager to learn about my passion. I could no longer pass along the joy of conquering your fears, the thrill of breaking down a roadblock and learning a new skill, or the self confidence that comes from falling down 100 times and getting up 101. Having this taken away from me has peeled away the layers of “I’m tired” and “my feet hurt” and shown me that teaching is something that truly brings me joy. I plan to find new ways to teach what I’ve learned and what I love in this new landscape as soon as possible. 

I’ve also learned how important friends and family are to me. Almost immediately, I started reaching out to those I am closest with and sharing articles, asking their opinion, expressing my concerns, bouncing ideas off of them... I have an incredible network of wonderful, intelligent, compassionate, supportive humans around me and I look forward to finding ways to rely on them even more as we all move forward into the uncertain future. I urge you to call on your tribe. We need each other now more than ever. And, even though it’s not quite as good as the real thing, a FaceTime hug is still better than sitting alone in isolation. Your people are still out there. You can still get to them. It just might look a little different for a while. 

I’ve also realized how important my dog is to me. He is laying wrapped around me as I write, and I could not be more grateful for his presence. I promise to take him for even more walks now that I’ll be spending more time at home. The connection we have is truly priceless. I value all the precious moments we share so very much, and I can’t wait to have more of them. Maybe we’ll finally get that puppy we’ve been talking about...or foster a dog in need. More furry friend time is always welcomed in my house. 😊

Another thing I’m looking forward to in the coming weeks is to finally have enough time to cook. I’ve been wanting to get back to making meals for myself literally for years, and it just hasn’t happened. Life keeps getting in the way, and NYC makes it way too easy to find time sensitive alternatives. The home workouts are also definitely going to be off the hook. More yoga, more TRX, more innovative jungle gym exercises on the couch...get ready. 

Finally, I’m excited to share more about my journey with you guys. I’ve been having trouble sitting down to write lately, and this is the perfect excuse to finish all those half written posts that have been sitting around for the last couple months. I have so much to share, and I’m grateful that now I have the time to do it. 

So, wherever you are, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. I hope you can use this time to find all the things you’re grateful for amongst all the chaos, and I hope you can take time to discover what is truly closest to your heart and what sets your soul on fire. And if you can- please, please, PLEASE stay home. It’s the best thing you can do for yourself and others. Oh, and wash your damn hands. 😊🧼💪🏼