I want this page to be inspirational and motivational.  I want you to read my thoughts and know that each word is meant to help get you moving. But, in the past days/weeks, I wasn't sure if it was right to continue on as if nothing has changed.  Because that is not our reality right now.  Like it or not, everything has changed.  New words are part of our daily vocabularly.  Social distancing, Covid-19 and self quarantine are words/phrases that I did not really know last month.  

Earlier this week my work required that we become 100% remote employees.  Going from 1 day a week to 5 has been and will probably be a struggle for quite some time.  And, it did not help that I fought it for the first two days.  I wasn't happy.  I didn't have my routine.  People were looking to me for advice and answers but I didn't even have them for myself.  I did not want to be in the situation.  Talking with a friend, she reminded me that I always have two options.  I could either continue to fight it or I can learn to accept it so I can find my new normal.   No lie, but I did not like that honesty.  Just like a young child, I wanted to throw a tantrum and say how unfair this was.    But, even though I wanted to fight it, I also did not like how I was feeling.  I felt emotionally drained.  I felt like every day life was changing and there was no end in sight.  So, I finally decided that it was time to accept it.

I can't say accepting what is going on is easy.  I start my day with the best attitude.  I even added a 3 o'clock dance party to help my mood.  But, by the end of the day I am still struggling.  Not getting activity isn't helping either.  My home doesn't have a lot of space for working out. I ran one morning. But since that day, it's been cold and now wet/cold.  And races being cancelled or postponed has not helped either.

Last night, just like the evenings before, I was my bad mood was taking over.  River Bank Run was postponed to the same day as my initial goal race.  Gazelle Girl is now virtual.  I can't meet up with my fellow runners.  I felt a really low moment.  But, somehow, in the next moment an amazing thought came to me.  With my now open schedule, I can decide exactly what I want to do for my races.  I'm not tied to any race.  I can travel to a bucket list race.  I can focus on my nutrition.  I can work on getting consistent runs in each week.  Normally, rain and cold wouldn't stop me from running.  I let them stop me.  But, with everything going on, this can be a fresh start.  Without time commitments or family commitments for that matter, I can focus on what really makes me happy…training.  I don't know when I will be able to return to work or the gym.  I can only take each day and do what I am able to do today.  Today, I choose to look at the possibilities instead of the limitations.