Life in the Covid Construction Zone
Title: Life in the Covid Construction Zone
Blogger: Kathleen Johnson, Membership and Marketing Director
Last year, life often felt like I was living in a construction zone or trying to live in the midst of a remodeling project. I am a women of faith and I believe that God has the master plan, but I can also say that I have struggled over the past year more often than I want to admit. I have looked into the future and seen only the void, and not the vision.
Like any building project, you have to do a little destruction first. The clearing of the land. And so it began in 2020 when life came to a halt and all calendars were cleared of plans and activities and things to look forward to. But, we could do this right? It won’t last long. We had faith. We had project leaders on the job. There was a foreman. An architect. A plan maker. We knew it was going to be hard but it was just for a little while.
I remember how differently people looked at this future, this project. Some didn’t believe it was happening and went on with life as usual, not letting the news change their life. Some were fearful and hunkered down preparing for delays and detours by buying enough supplies to stay secluded and safe in their homes. Some relied on their strong will to trudge through, accepting the delays and rerouting their journeys to get where they wanted to go. Some were angry. Some were sad. Some wanted answers. Some were oblivious to the changes. Some denied there was an issue. These varied reactions made me think long and hard about what my role would be in all this instability. What would my vantage point be?
Let me explain using a construction site analog. In a construction zone sometimes your vantage point is from the driver’s seat of the bulldozer. You are in control of the dirt, pushing, guiding and following the plan. Other times you feel like you are the dirt; being pushed away, moved and graded to adhere to the plan. Or worse yet, you feel like you are the dirt under the tires; crushed, compacted, un-thought of.
For so many, life this past year has felt like the leveling effects of a bulldozer.
The American Psychological Association did a survey on American pandemic stress levels in 2020. Here are the health outcomes that were sited:
• Nearly half of respondents had increased stress in 2020
• Over 40% gained weight
• Nearly 25% drank more alcohol
• Nearly 66% had significantly altered sleep patterns – that’s 2/3rds!
• 1 out of 3 respondents reported anxiety or depression
• 12% considered suicide in the past 30 days
Clearly, pandemic stress has been our destruction zone. It has dug a hole in our lives. I went from routines and habits for a happy life to worrying about the “what ifs” tomorrow’s message from the Governor would bring. Worry, sadness, and fear all became routine and then habit forming, placing me in a rut of instability and negative thoughts. From there I headed downhill to sleeplessness, weight gain, and many more stressors that were decreasing my energy and my health. Just like the survey said.
So where to go? I needed to reload! What resources did I have? Well, I had my faith, my husband, a strong family, and the Y!
What was the Y’s role in the transformation – the remodel? It was stability. People depended on me and this was just what I needed. So I made a list for the project at hand – for the y – for me.
I needed blueprints, an architect, supplies, and to find my crew, my source of help. We can’t do it alone and I was not alone in this circumstance. My perspective, attitude, and success relied not on me alone, but me with and my crew. Do you have a crew?
Choose to take it one day at a time. Be vision and mission minded.
Clearing the land may feel like mass destruction at first, and it might take a bulldozer to get your path cleared away, but try not to look at it as leaving a void. Choose to see it as a clean area to build. Start with the foundation. You may have to dig deeper to set the corner stone but once the hole is dug and the foundation is laid, things will begin to change. The chaos becomes organized and slowly takes shape each day. Who doesn’t like watching a building go up? Construction is cool! Seeing progress is inspiring. You will not only help yourself but you’ll inspire others with your actions.
You can do this and the Y is here to help. We are here to be your construction crew and we’ve got the equipment for the heavy lifting. Sure, we all know that exercise will help the body and the work can be hard but we are confident that it will be worth it. We also encourage you to take time to review the plan daily and look at the progress.
Let’s get started!
- Clear a place for you and the Y on your calendar. Not just one day but as a part of each day.
- Start with one goal. Make it obtainable. Set yourself up for success. Maybe you are going to schedule a tour, take a class, buy a bathing suit or new walking shoes. You could check out our Virtual Y and see what a few instructors look like and sound like so you have an idea of what to expect from the class will be like. Day one should make you feel confident.
- Next, be sure to meet our staff. Stop at the desk and let us help you get familiar with the lay of the land. The Y should feel like an adventure and then become an addition to your stomping grounds. A place to feel like home. Let the Y connect you with others with the same goals. Join a group training session.
- We will be here every step of the way in any path you choose. Want to de-stress? Try yoga or weight lifting. As you can see, the Y has the options to best fit your personality for the results you need.
Check out The Who, What, When, Where, and the Y - Podcast 6 for more ideas from Jason Eick, YMCA Health and Wellness Director. He gives more insight into what will help you restart your journey to being healthy in Spirit, Mind, and Body. It’s not all about exercise.
So that’s my story. Stay tuned to our blog for more stories from other Y leaders, members, and volunteers. We want to support you. Be your inspiration crew. Be transparent and real. Be your community.
If you have questions please give us a call or email us anytime. Here’s how you can. Tuscarawas County YMCA 330-364-5511. kathleen@tuscymca.org or jason@tuscymca.org
Link to Virtual Y https://tuscymca.org/new-virtual-y
Y Podcast 6 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOs8Geq7fcA&list=UUC7wU2Egt2Io0l3bbNm1KPA&index=1
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