Winding Down
Summer is winding down for most of us, and we’re starting to think about sending the kids back to school and maybe going back to a more normal work schedule.
Sure, there’s still uncertainty in the air -- one of the few guarantees in life is that there will always be uncertainty -- but I’m choosing to take a moment and be grateful for how this summer is ending compared to the last one.
A year ago, some of us were still in some form of lockdown. I know my gym wasn’t close to fully re-opened yet. And parents were trying to navigate starting another school year with their kids learning in their bedrooms on Zoom.
Zoom school was a disaster for most kids … and for the parents who had to figure out a way to make it work while, in some cases, they were working from home, too.
Let’s hope that better days and circumstances continue to present themselves, while also remembering two key lessons I hope we’re all learned from the pandemic:
We learned some really valuable ways to get things done differently that we probably never would’ve figured out had we not been forced to, and …
We never control our circumstances, only how we respond to them.
Off the top of my head, here are a few things that I like better about the way life is now compared to before the pandemic:
-- I’ll never wait in line at Starbucks or Panera again. Why do that when I can place the order on my phone and have it waiting for me when I arrive?
-- I’ll never miss a workout again just because I couldn’t physically make it to the gym. There’s always a Zoom option, a recorded class, or a home workout that I could knock out quickly in my own apartment with a couple of dumbbells and a band.
-- No more sitting in traffic for 45 minutes each way to go to a routine doctor’s appointment. Unless you’re ill and need a physical exam, doctor visits can be accomplished much more effectively and efficiently with a telehealth appointment. Even if you need blood work, you can go get that ahead of time and make sure the doctor has it before your online appointment.
-- Coaching is much more enjoyable than it ever was before. I went into this business because I love coaching and helping people. And honestly, I feel much more connected and valuable to my clients than I ever did when in-person interactions were the only ones we had.
So many clients who’ve come back into the gym after 18 months of home workouts have commented on how much they missed in-person training and how much they love it. That’s great, but don’t lose sight of all the things we’ve learned to do in a pinch when the day doesn’t go as planned.
Here’s to a smooth, more normal school year for all of our kids, and more opportunities than you’ve ever had before to take care of yourself, your health and your fitness.
As we approach the changing of another season, what lessons have you learned that you’re grateful for? Shoot me a reply and let me know.
Coach Aaron