Page 48 - June-2021-Voices

QUARTER NOTE

What’s Your New Normal?

David Freedman, IP3

Friday, June 11, 2021 marked the first day in over vaccinated and can go to the gym unmasked.
a year that I was able to go to my aquafit class Nevertheless, it absolutely rankled that I’d have

at my gym. The day before, I happened to run to start over, even if it wasn’t completely from
into our instructor just after my weight-lifting scratch.
workout who informed me that we’d be starting I got through the aquafit class just fine but
the class again. I was so relieved I gave him a huge noted how exhausted I felt afterwards. When I

hug and promised to show up for class, which I first started taking water aerobics over a decade
did—but not without some trepidation. ago, it took me over two weeks of continued
Like many of us, I’d noticed because of efforts before I began to feel as though I was
the pandemic and subsequent isolation from gaining stamina after each workout. I knew that

other people that I’d lost a step. Perhaps it was this was completely normal, and since then that
even more than one since I’d gained all of my extra stamina has paid off in a number of ways,
weight back that I’d fought so hard to lose over including climbing stairs without exhaustion as
the past few years. Although I tried to maintain well as going on extended walks and hikes with

something close to an exercise routine, with no aches or pains plaguing me afterwards. The
the multiple gym closures, the pressures of the hope is that in six months or less I will be back
pandemic itself, the colder weather coming in to my original healthy self and move forward
along with the holidays, the intense cravings for from there.

junk food during those times, and of course not But the truth is, my original healthy self was
being able to go to any of my usual activities, all from last year. I have no idea of what my new
of those came into play where I simply couldn’t normal will look like in terms of my health,
realistically maintain my normal routines. Even career, or social activity. And that’s a scary

after the gym reopened yet again in February enough situation to be in without having to
and the weather warmed up in March, I knew worry about how my other friends and family
I’d have to rebuild myself back to where I was are doing.
before the pandemic began. I’m now completely I recently gave a speech with the same title

48 ONE COMMUNITY