I did it. I went running and I likely only did so because I made that promise to you in this column last week.
It felt good to get back to something that brings me joy and makes me feel better physically. Did you join me in getting back to something that you used to do or perhaps, did you try something new?
I ask only because during this pandemic, if we isolate ourselves away from every possible danger, we may hurt ourselves more in the long run. Physical conditioning is one good example. If we are more sedentary (and yours truly is certainly guilty of that, so if you’re guilty too then you’ve got company!) then other health issues may worsen. If we don’t reach out and connect with others, even virtually, then loneliness and social isolation put many of us at risk for dementia and other serious medical conditions. See the CDC research that outlines this particular issue.
To be clear, I want everyone to take good precautions, including social distancing, wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, and avoiding high touch surfaces such as elevator buttons and door handles. But while doing all of that, I hope that each of us finds something that creates even a moment of joy. I’ll shamelessly promote our programs as a means of interacting with others, getting physical exercise, and nourishing ourselves. We try to have something for everyone AND we’re open to ideas about new potential programs.
Speaking of new programs, we were successful in winning a DC HOPE grant, and as a result, have the cutest bottles of hand sanitizer to give away. (Note that it didn’t cost us any extra to have our logo printed on the label!) In a few weeks we’ll also have free cloth face masks for anyone who wants one. Send us anemailto let us know if you'd like either or both of these items. We’re presently figuring out our distribution plan, but we’ll put you on our list!
I hope everyone has a great weekend. Again, if you made progress on a promise to yourself for greater self-care, please let me know! Let’s celebrate together and strengthen each other. I promise that it will help to get through this time.