So today I do not come to you as your usual rah rah cheerleader.

 

I come to you as someone who has been slowly struggling to get through these new crazy Covid-19 times.

 

I usually think of myself as a positive, optimistic, outgoing, seeing the glass half full kind of person.

 

Yes, I do love to wear my rose colored glasses and wear them proudly. 

 

I realized that I have not been truly honest with how I am feeling and it is beginning to take a toll on my mental health.

 

But after almost four months of social distancing and doing my part to flatten the curve, thinking that this is temporary, I've been preaching to my family, friends and students “hang in there”,” we got this”  “we can get through this together”.

 

I have days I feel weepy, other days wired and tired, I've been experiencing mental fogginess and seem to get stressed over things that would have never bothered me before.

 

The mental toughness I usually possess is slowly disappearing and with good reason.

 

I have watched this virus effect and  take the lives of  people I know, the lives of my students' families, and loved ones of my clients.

 

I have a business I am not able to open, a great network of friends I am not able to see, and a family I can not spend time with. 

 

Meanwhile the deaths and injustices going on in all of our neighborhoods, a historical revolution taking place with Black Lives Matter it's okay to feel a sense of helplessness and vulnerability.

 

We are human and our mind is a fragile thing.

 

You can not push back your feelings, try to hide behind them, or ignore them. Your body keeps score!! 

 

In order to heal, change needs to take place.

 

I can not tell you that Covid-19 is going away any time soon, I can not tell you that it's going to be okay.

 

I can not tell you that you will have your old life back again, because in reality I truly do not think that life will ever be the same.

 

What I can tell you is that it's time to practice what I preach.

 

We need to become aware of our feelings and realize that it's okay not to be okay.

 

Becoming aware of how we truly feel and then coming up with a coming out of Covid-19 action plan.

 

If we continue not to acknowledge these feelings, long term stress will have a detrimental effect on our overall wellness.

 

It's okay to mourn your old life, but let's come up with a plan to begin our “new normal” life.

 

Small steps can make a big difference and at least get our minds back on the right track. This is a small step, but it’s a step in the right direction.

 

Use the chart that I have provided and list five things under each category that you plan to do to get you back into a healthier mindset and ready to achieve your future goals. Goals become a plan once you write them down.

 

To all of my friends in the health and fitness field if you have any classes you are offering or actions that you are taking to help during these times, please share.

 

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