Staying Fit during Covid-19

I love to play pickle ball. Before the pandemic I played in an indoor league with other "picklers" at the same skill level. Teaming up this way enabled us to be competitive yet not to the point of being overly challenging. We met weekly and we were matched up with a different partner for each of the 4 or 5 games we played on our scheduled day. First and foremost - it was great fun. Secondly, we got a darn good workout.

Since the Covid-19 shut-down, as we know all gyms and pickle ball courts, both indoor and out were closed. Now what do I do to make up for the loss of the exercise? The end of our companionship and partner play is yet another issue.

On the days I wasn't playing pickle ball, I walked or hiked. Now, the walking and hiking has become a daily routine. Taking the same route every day can become weary so my dear friend and walking partner, Shannon, and I began exploring various neighborhoods near our home. The wandering led us up hills and down and past exquisite homes we hadn't seen before and most likely wouldn't if it weren't for this situation.

However, I felt I was using the same muscles every day and needed to work the ones that were being neglected since walking/hiking uses primarily the larger muscles of the lower body.

This is where the dreaded weights come in. I call them dreaded because I do NOT relish lifting weights and have been avoiding them at all costs. I have repeatedly said in the past that I would begin working with weights as I know how important they are to both muscle and bone health. Sure, there were days I broke down and lifted a few dumbbells - bicep curls here and there, a few kickbacks, now and then, but nothing serious.

Finally, I've relented and have begun a weight lifting program of my design. Believe it or not, I have been enduring it for nine weeks now. It's actually not as bad as I had conjured up. Granted, I'm only using 5-8 pound dumbbells but I am consistently lifting 2-3 times a week.  Hallelujah!  I'm finally being accountable to myself. Darn, I am so proud. And, I believe I am seeing a bit of muscle growth!

I'm determined to not only stay healthy, well and strong through this crazy time but to be stronger than before. Healthier and more resilient than I was several months ago. My heart is certainly more open and grateful for the frontline workers that I - for the most part - took for granted. Never again. And my life - while I never took that for granted, I have certainly become more aware of it's fragility.

xo

Boredom or Uncomfortable?

In the beginning of this pandemic, friends and aquaintances were going full steam ahead cleaning out closets and pantries, going through old files and shredding documents as if their lives depended on it. Some donned their aprons and were baking yummy cookies, savory bread and spicy chili.  One friend even went as far as to make her own sour dough starter. Granted, she is a chef and caterer, however, boredom, made her do it!

I read a quote recently, (sorry, I'm unable to recall who said it) regarding boredom: "We're not actually bored, we're just uncomfortable with our day to day life and we don't know what to do about it." What I do remember though is that this quote wasn't referring to our current lives during the pandemic. She was referring to the void left when one decides to no longer consume alcohol. It feels as though there is something missing. Well, of course something's missing. The crutch is gone. The sweet feeling of 'ah, that's better. I can deal now with my situation'. Or whatever feeling arises with the first sip.

Another area this uncomfortableness is showing up is in our isolation. We have been relegated to our homes for an indeterminate time. Some of us since March. Others a bit later, but in most cases we are running out of ideas of what to do with ourselves. Yes, this is uncomfortable for sure as our options are rather limited.

I find it an interesting take on boredom - we are uncomfortable and don't know what to do about it.

Another feeling that I've been facing since our stay at home order, is a vexing restlessness. At times, I'm content to read a book. Other times, there is nothing that fills the lack of one on one contact.

States are beginning to open up and folks will be getting out and about once again. The boredom or "uncomfortableness" will be assuaged for the time being, surely to return at some point once again.

Whether the boredom/uncomfortableness is the result of not drinking or being isolated, the feeling is the same. We are resilient and strong and must learn to be comfortable with uncomfortableness.

xo

Happiness

 Ray Chambers, the current Ambassador for Global Strategy for the World Health Organization once was a Wall Street CEO and innovator. After revolutionizing the idea of leveraged buyout, decided he had amassed enough capital to do something worthwhile with it. His philanthropic efforts are diverse, with major focus areas in global health, mentoring and revitalizing his home town of Newark, N.J.

He has created what he calls The 5 Keys in the Pursuit of Happiness:

1.  Be in the moment.

My take on this is that if you stop your thoughts about what happened in the past or ruminating about the future and be exactly where you are now - there is peace. Just be. No thinking involved.

2.  Better to be loving than right. 

I remind myself of this often (even when I am right!).  And when in the midst of a disagreement with someone - and since we are basically isolated at home - that someone would be the hubby.

3.  Be a spectator to our own thoughts.  

As I've experienced, this is especially important when we are feeling emotional, scared or tense. It helps to step outside of our thoughts and concerns and have compassion towards ourselves. This disengaging helps immensely in having compassion for others.

4.  Be grateful for one thing every day.

I love this one and it is the very best way to start the day. Usually before my feet hit the floor I thank God that I am on this side of the dirt.

5.  Be of service to others.

In my experience, this key not only guarantees your happiness but the receiver's happiness as well.

I've also found that kindness brings me a huge measure of happiness. The smallest kindnesses - smiling at a stranger, opening a door for someone, sharing the fruit from my abundant lemon tree with my neighbors - all bring a bit of happiness to my heart and these small bits add up to a gladness of spirit.

We are certainly living in uncertain times and what the future will hold is anyone's guess. However, utilizing Mr. Chambers' keys may bring us a modicum of peace.

xo

Your Memoir

I wrote the following blog post a week or so before the Coronavirus pandemic began and didn't publish it. It was a  light and breezy post. It still is, however, perhaps what you may have named your memoir prior to this epidemic is not the same as what you may call it today. I will give the title of my memoir more thought, however, the original post is as follows:

One of my favorite creative and inspiring books is Art and Soul, Reloaded by Pam Grout. It is filled with exercises to jumpstart our creative juices and at times, to step outside of our comfort zones.

One of the more interesting assignments is to write our memoir in six words, no more no less. This idea originated with the book Not Quite What I was Planning, a collection of six word memoir titles by famous and not so famous people.

It all began when Ernest Hemingway wrote: "For sale: baby shoes, never worn".

A few examples from the book are:

Author Dave Eggers: Fifteen years since last professional haircut.

Comedian Stephen Colbert: Well, I thought it was funny.

Author Joyce Carol Oates: Revenge is living well,  without you.

Chef and restauranteur Mario Batali: Brought it to a boil, often.

And one from a not-so-famous person; me: Still curious after all these years.

It's fun and not as easy as it sounds to come up with a six word title for your memoir.  Give it some thought.  What would your memoir be called?

xo