Make the most of what freedoms we do have
Step outside as much as you can, breathe in the fresh air, move your body, smile, laugh and let go of your tensions and stresses.
I know many of us may be feeling pretty trapped at the moment for a range of different reasons and that is ok and completely normal given the current climate we find ourselves in.
The fact is though we’re not entirely trapped … Contrary to some opinion, we are not in a prison cell or war zone, we are simply restricted and we need to keep reminding ourselves of this. Whether you’re in Melbourne or regional Victoria you have varying levels of freedom and we need to make sure we are making the most of what we do have.
Being a local Phillip Island resident, I have a lot more freedom than many of my family and friends in other locations and I am grateful for this and doing my best to make the most of it. Just this past weekend in a 24-hour period, with a best friend in tow I went exploring beautiful Fish Creek, Foster, Meeniyan, and Harmers Haven. All areas visited included some form of outdoor exercise. We went for a massive 26km bike ride, we hiked, walked, and swam, all the while soaking up plenty of Vitamin D, magnesium, and melatonin as well as triggering a healthy surge of happy endorphins.
All we are seeing in the media at the moment is – ‘case numbers today, percentage of people vaccinated, deaths, travel restrictions’ etc etc. It is all-consuming and exhausting for everyone.
How about rather than obsessing over these facts that mainstream media choose to report, we shift our focus to how can I get through this? What do I know works for me? What is right for me? And let everything else just be … Don’t worry about what your neighbour, sister, or best friend is doing or thinking. All that matters is what matters for you. Be true to yourself and allow others to be true to themselves. Be kind, respect yourself and others, and let what will be, be. We cannot control what will happen tomorrow, but what we can control is how we choose to take on what freedoms are on offer today and using those freedoms to our individual advantage.
So, I implore you to step outside as much as you can, breathe in the fresh air, move your body, smile, laugh and let go of your tensions and stresses. Be true to yourself and find your way through this in the most positive light available to you – to ensure you are receiving benefits from physical wellbeing and also mental wellbeing – both critical regardless of whether you will have to face Covid or any other difficulty. Remember to reach out to friends, family, and professionals, you are not alone!
