Not sure where to post this as The Lounge seems no longer visible on the forum tree 
and I don't want this to be missed.
I suppose I will put it here as good health relates to self-defense, no ?
BLUF - times are tough ! How are you guys doing ?
Not fully realizing it, I found myself unexpectedly down for a few months.
That is, I was off this forum, but also off of other activities that I typically enjoy.
Belgium's C-19 numbers have been quite bad and the country has dropped back into a lockdown. Once again, for about a month, only vital businesses remained open - essentially food, household hygiene and maintenance, etc.
We do "bubbles" over here, that is limiting the close-contact folks to a limited number. Because of this, my traditional Thanksgiving, with 25 people in the house, was cancelled. The 16 lbs. bird is still in the freezer
The gyms are closed and for me, that is a huge deal.
The country is on maximum telework. I hate teleworking because it messes with my daily routine, particularly my healthy nutrition plan. I wind up drinking beer, eating pizza, Belgian chocolates, and other rich, high-calorie foods. I went from very lean for my age to +20 lbs. This further fueled frustration with myself and made me even more reclusive.
And then it dawned on me... 2020 is an extremely tough year, more than we are willing to admit.
I had a conversation with a friend who said to me, "What's the bid deal ? Cancelling Thanksgiving or Xmas for a year really isn't so bad".
But, isn't it ? I mean what else do we have ?
I think it is important to realize that throughout 2020 (at least over here in Belgium and I presume to a similar degree where you are too) most of the small re-energizing moments in life have been deleted.
It's not just the big events, but all those small things that we took for granted that put gas in your tank on a regular basis: going to the gym, taking the intern out to lunch, workplace banter, unexpected/spontaneous visits, shopping, concerts, sports and games, niece's birthday... all those little things. This adds up !
Then there's all those little drains, mostly things that used to be easy but are now a pain or complicated... like remembering to wear a mask when you commute, adapting to kids' new lockdown school schedules, fighting with local administration cuz they're always closed, teleworking, trying to figure out how to do your job in new, virtual ways, worrying about business partners.
I saw this today on a buddy's FB
I have seen many variants of these. Although I think it misses the point (on how dangerous the virus is for the elderly and those with comorbidities) it also minimizes the constant stress that we are under.
2020 is a very insidiously challenging year.
My point is this: please be aware that all these little drains and all these energizing moments lost... add up. You cannot expect to be at your best this year. And it will take a while to get over it and you need to give yourself that space.
Cancelling Xmas and Thanksgiving IS a big deal because we have lost so many other smaller special moments.
Unless you recognize it for what it is, 2020 may well bite you on the ass... or kick you in the nuts.
and I don't want this to be missed.I suppose I will put it here as good health relates to self-defense, no ?
BLUF - times are tough ! How are you guys doing ?
Not fully realizing it, I found myself unexpectedly down for a few months.
That is, I was off this forum, but also off of other activities that I typically enjoy.
Belgium's C-19 numbers have been quite bad and the country has dropped back into a lockdown. Once again, for about a month, only vital businesses remained open - essentially food, household hygiene and maintenance, etc.
We do "bubbles" over here, that is limiting the close-contact folks to a limited number. Because of this, my traditional Thanksgiving, with 25 people in the house, was cancelled. The 16 lbs. bird is still in the freezer
The gyms are closed and for me, that is a huge deal.
The country is on maximum telework. I hate teleworking because it messes with my daily routine, particularly my healthy nutrition plan. I wind up drinking beer, eating pizza, Belgian chocolates, and other rich, high-calorie foods. I went from very lean for my age to +20 lbs.
This further fueled frustration with myself and made me even more reclusive.And then it dawned on me... 2020 is an extremely tough year, more than we are willing to admit.
I had a conversation with a friend who said to me, "What's the bid deal ? Cancelling Thanksgiving or Xmas for a year really isn't so bad".
But, isn't it ? I mean what else do we have ?
I think it is important to realize that throughout 2020 (at least over here in Belgium and I presume to a similar degree where you are too) most of the small re-energizing moments in life have been deleted.
It's not just the big events, but all those small things that we took for granted that put gas in your tank on a regular basis: going to the gym, taking the intern out to lunch, workplace banter, unexpected/spontaneous visits, shopping, concerts, sports and games, niece's birthday... all those little things. This adds up !
Then there's all those little drains, mostly things that used to be easy but are now a pain or complicated... like remembering to wear a mask when you commute, adapting to kids' new lockdown school schedules, fighting with local administration cuz they're always closed, teleworking, trying to figure out how to do your job in new, virtual ways, worrying about business partners.
I saw this today on a buddy's FB
I have seen many variants of these. Although I think it misses the point (on how dangerous the virus is for the elderly and those with comorbidities) it also minimizes the constant stress that we are under.
2020 is a very insidiously challenging year.
My point is this: please be aware that all these little drains and all these energizing moments lost... add up. You cannot expect to be at your best this year. And it will take a while to get over it and you need to give yourself that space.
Cancelling Xmas and Thanksgiving IS a big deal because we have lost so many other smaller special moments.
Unless you recognize it for what it is, 2020 may well bite you on the ass... or kick you in the nuts.
