Well folks, I woke up to the sound of the recycling truck picking up our bin, which means it’s Friday. Did you know it was Friday? Typically I would be at work by 6AM, so I don’t get to wake up to the sounds of our bins being picked up by a mechanical arm and dumping our weeks worth of trash, yard waste, or recycling into the back of a truck being driven by people who are working hard through this pandemic. There are moments I wish I was able to work, but for the most part, I’m secretly enjoying this time so much at home that I’m hoping my wife is clairvoyant and today she is going to sit down, look at our finances, and see if I can continue to be a SAHM after all this is over…OR return to school full-time for a chance at another career since my body is falling apart and I’ve been questioning for a while now if I should continue in my current profession.
I’ve been working as an Exercise Physiologist, Kinesiologist and Personal Trainer since the early 2000s, and as much as I love my clients, my body has just had so many injuries that the arthritis reminding me of those injuries sometimes for a few days back-to-back, is a daunting fatigue. Not to mention, compared to most people who work in this field, I’m not that egotistical, so I don’t fit in. I’m not the type of person who needs to post my workouts and pics of my body online in order to receive the thumbs up and hearts to boost my ego like some people I know. If I’m posting a workout, it’s actually to help people, not for me to feel good. Or if it’s a pic of a location I hiked/ran to, it’s because it’s a beautiful view, not so that I will receive affirmation on social media that I’m doing great at making my calves look good.
I am in this profession to help people improve their health, not help them look good in a bikini. I mean, sure, if that’s your goal, I’ll help you design a program to reach that, but there’s more to a healthy life than the look of your body. For some reason, that seems to be the draw for most people to exercise, which I disagree with. It’s sad, shallow, and eventually everyone’s body changes. If you can’t begin to accept that, it’ll be a shock to your psyche when it does eventually happen. Focus on loving yourself, not trying to forge yourself into who you aren’t, and who you think others want you to look like. Looks are definitely not everything.
With what everyone in the world is currently dealing with right now—a pandemic of un-limitless proportions that is affecting every race, class, and gender—overall health (not just our looks), is what we need to focus on. This fuckin’ virus is non-biased, regardless of what our wanker of a President thinks, and during a time when we all need to be following physical distancing and doing our best to remain home if we have the luxury to do so, those who are still obsessed with the look of their bodies without any place to go…well, your looks won’t save you from this pandemic. Your overall health by exercising, eating well, getting plenty of sleep, and trying to keep your stress levels low will help you be able to cope with the changes in your life, and possibly help you if you do contract COVID-19, but you fitting into that damn thong bikini will make no fuckin’ difference.
I know, I’m ranting. I shouldn’t even have time to type this rant up because we have two energetic young boys at home we love dearly, but who are missing their friends, grandparents, the playgrounds, and they are taking up every minute of our day. Personal time is rare. You know that pic of the small little toddler hand under the bathroom door? That’s 24-7 now. But I look at them and they remind me of what is important—not my looks, but my overall health, and our family. So get your priorities straight: take care of yourself physically, psychologically, and spiritually so that you can be there for your loved ones, and for yourself; make sure you have enough toilet paper, since that is now a rare commodity; if you’re of age and not in AA, go ahead and treat yourself to a relaxing drink in the evening; get outside as much as you can; stay in contact with people over the phone and/or FaceTime; turn off the news so you can mentally have a break from the virus (We don’t allow the news on in our house. We either read about it, or listen to it.); exercise (but don’t post a pic of your body in your underwear on social media); meditate; get in some yoga; go to bed at an early hour; watch some comedy so you can laugh—in fact, do whatever you need to do so you can laugh; read a book; cook; garden; and spend quality time with the loved ones you listed on your census form.
Anything that entertains them (within reason), we do. Especially if it allows us to get a few gardening projects done!
Good luck out there. Hopefully this blog post didn’t offend too many of you, but I have a feeling that if you actually do read my blog, you aren’t offended too much by what I write…except for my family members. I tend to upset at least one family member with each blog post. Sorry.
Our family is craving some time at the beach.