Covid's Not In Control

 Friday evening my wife, I and some of our friends attended a concert by Jimmy and the Parrots at the Steel Stacks venue in  Bethlehem.  It was an event at which people kept the "social distancing" rule, everyone had a mask on while walking around and took it off to eat at their table. We talked and laughed, she sang, and we were out in the fresh air.  We even saw the International Space Station as it made it's way over the Steel Stacks that were all lit up.  

       This year has been quite tough to keep your physical and mental health going strong.  It is, however, a year that getting outside and participating in outdoor activities has been more important than ever.  Walking, running, cycling are all good ideas to get moving on your own or with your family.  Heading out to farmer's markets, sunflower fields, apple orchards and pumpkin fields --just walking around will make you healthier.  Grabbing some fresh produce and sunflowers is just an added benefit.  

      It is important to keep moving no matter what your age or physical status. You can do chair exercises if you can't walk, you can walk if you can't run and there is always something you can do to make yourself stronger.  It is important to walk or move when you are 60, if you want to be able to do it at 65. 

      Socializing is also important for your mental well-being.  Do it safely, be smart and wear a mask. Your mask protects me, my mask protects you and we all live safely and get along.

Don't Just Sit There

     We look forward to vacations every year.  This year, everything seems to have changed.  We don't know when we will be out of quarantine and we don't know when things will open back up.  Outside for us now means wearing masks in public and social distancing.
      No matter what is going on outside, you still have to take care of yourself.  Getting out for a run, bike ride or walk can make you feel better, clear your head and help lower your anxiety. Reading books and magazines or watching self help videos can expand your knowledge base.
       If you don't want to go out, you can ride your exercise bike, walk up and down your stairs,  or put some music on and dance.   It doesn't matter what you do as long as you are doing something daily to take care of yourself.  Don't just sit there for all the hours in the day, your muscles need to move and blood needs to flow.  If you work from home, every so often you need to get up and walk around your house.  It is important to not be so sedentary.
   

"Keep on moving and stay well."

Social Distancing

     I went for a run the other day and came across these women catching up on life. They called themselves the “Real Wives of Greenridge,” who indicated they were waiting for a wine delivery. Actually, they were waiting for a local radio station to play a series of songs. The station plays the songs inviting listeners to go outside and sing along to shake loose the webs that are brought on by the “cabin fever” of self-isolation from COVID-19. The “real wives” are maintaining social distance while still interacting with friends. It is important to keep in contact with others and to socialize (within certain parameters) to maintain some small aspects of mental and physical health. Of course, you could just go for a run and enjoy nature.

Socialized Distancing

Frozen Yoda

Winter is in full swing and it is cold outside. If you’re waiting for warmer weather to exercise, soon enough you’ll be complaining that it is too hot. Fitness is a 12 month a year commitment. There are always things to see, things to do and ways to enjoy life. Yesterday we went to a “Winterfest” in Stroudsburg. There were ice sculptures but little else going on. We did, however, find a new place for lunch. The atmosphere was good, the food was good, and the beer was better. While we were out in the cold, walking around and seeing what was going on in the world, many people in the area were sitting on their couches, griping about the cold and making their lives more miserable. Hot or cold, get out, see something new, do something that you like and enjoy life.

“Enjoyable life is”