I remember when I had to close my studio due to Covid. It was March 14, and I wasn’t feeling well. It was a non-descript sort of not feeling well, but in that confusing time I wondered if I had Covid, so I stayed home for the couple of days leading up to the date that the Commonwealth said businesses had to close.
At the time, it felt kind of nice, like a forced vacation, and I really had no idea how much it would affect my life. I closed shop with the thought that I would be open back up in a week or two.
That was over two years ago, but in some ways it feels like it was a lifetime ago. At first, it felt like a bad dream that I never woke up from. Every decision, from whether to wear a mask to the grocery store, to if I should go out to dinner in a restaurant, to traveling to Europe, felt like it was fraught with danger, or at the very least, the judgement of others. We were in uncharted territory, and there was no guidebook to tell us what to do.
Throughout these two years, exercise has always been my guiding light. I work out nearly every day, without fail, fitting in some kind of movement, and it has helped me get through these two years. Thanks to exercise, healthy eating and sleep (as much as I could get with hot flashes and the resulting middle-of-the-night worrying), I feel strong and full of verve.
What is verve? It is defined as having vigor and spirit or enthusiasm, and it is a word I especially like the sound of. I feel like it describes myself most days, and the way I aspire to be on the days that were a bit harder over these past two years.
Times can still be tough for all of us: there is a heart-wrenching, terrible war going on in Ukraine and political division in our country. People tell me they just can’t get motivated to exercise, and haven’t been moving as much these past couple of years, and they just don’t know why.
But I think things are getting better. Covid is waning and the vaccines worked to help stave off severe illness. Warmer weather is coming, and longer days and opportunities to get outside and go on vacations, to spend time with family and friends.
It’s time for all of us to find our verve, find what inspires us and gives us hope, energy and enthusiasm to be the kind of person we want to be today.
I want to help you find your verve. It won’t always be easy, but it will be so worth it.
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