A year like we've never had. No masters, no sports, no family get togethers....and no in person celebrations of the resurrection of Christ.
I am sure MANY of you feel the same way. Hurt, confused, stressed, sad, lonely, bored, angry, tired, anxious....and...well...nearly every feeling under the sun!
Emotions are flying all around us.
Both positive and negative. For me, tuning out the negative has been what I am struggling the most with.
If you think of the analogy I am about to display...maybe it will shed light as to how you will value the oncoming weeks ahead.
Look at Jesus. The week before Easter...we can all agree it was NOT very pleasant. He had a rough time that only led to the wonderful gift he gave us that weekend.
Right now many of you may be soaking up in the negative with the pandemic circling us. Maybe you are drowning yourself in it, or putting it on others...but if you think about what this whole thing is doing for us...you can start seeing some good in it!
Over the past decade, tough times were not uncommon for me. I've been through A LOT that I know many of you would be shocked to know....and fought through days I thought my life was ending.
These tough times only made me who I am today.
I always said "tough days make the easy days more flawless."
No matter how bad something may look on the outside...you can always find good in it that makes it better. Sure, this virus is bringing out stress, anger, anxiety, and questions that many of us still don't know...
But think about what you have been through in the past four weeks that has enabled you to now handle more, cope better, and connect more thoroughly.
Maybe you struggled being "in tune" with your family because of work.
Maybe you were never able to finish those house projects because you didnt take the time to learn...
Maybe you started cooking after many of the fast food joints knew your order by name....
Whatever strengths you have added this month, use them as positives to propel you into the ongoing weeks with a smile! God has a reason behind all of this, and although this horrid virus is killing thousands, it is allowing many of us to slow down and realize some of the smaller things in life and how great they can be.
Just as he did with his celebration on Easter.
I'm not saying this has been easy. To be perfectly honest, I really have not slept more than a few hours each night since March 14th.
I've worked harder than I ever have trying to keep everyone in my gym family motivated, safe, and still wanting to workout. I've researched, attended 17 zoom meetings in 24 days on learning, and adapted. Each week something NEW is learned and brought to the table. If you think about it...the fitness industry has COMPLETELY changed its entire dynamic in less than a week and we've adapted and dished out to the best of our ability, all WHILE my manager returned from vacation with the virus himself.
I have tried to be there for my wife and son, who just turned one last week, but my efforts have been lackluster do the the amount of work and stress I am under. I ended up breaking down Friday after one of the busiest days I've had then going to put brussel sprouts in the oven while being on the phone with the bank about a loan I was not going to be getting....meanwhile....hearing my phone in the background blow up with messages as I was talking.(you may laugh, but it was the timing of it all that just hit me)
I lost it, broke down in tears....only to have Meg just give me a hug(which she has been fearful of doing do to not knowing how I would react). She reminded me to just stop, focus on what I can control, and let God take care of the rest.
I began trying to eliminate the negatives, or make sure they are not at the center of my worry. All the backlash and haters can have their times. I just wanted to focus on what mattered and that was helping those who wanted my help!
I've even tried to set myself as a role model and leader in our community to show the importance of our health and open the Immunity Community to offer amazing tips, workouts and strategies to better health.
The stresses of work/life right now are at an all time high for me. Sometimes this just puts me in this whole new level of work...and Meg even will tell you it's been one she has never seen from me.(this is coming from the girl who used to sit with me at dinner while dating and I would be on my phone 80% of the meal).
Add in the stresses of these so called "government assistance" loans....and I've nearly lost my mind. The small guy always seems to be forgotten about in business. I've spent countless hours trying to get paperwork together and applications filled for loans I am hearing I have no chance at getting. My expenses at OAF are never put on hold or stopped. Just because I am not using the equipment doesnt mean I don't have to pay on it and the lease/rent.
Any "forgivable" loan has been lost at the fact I only have one employee.
All this mess can just wrack at my brain all day and night.
But I am trying to just focus on the positives, although the negatives seem to sound like a massive ROAR to my ear for every little voice.
At the end of the day, I just wanted to remember on Easter morning that I have been truly blessed to be a dad for ONE year now....Noah's first birthday party was canceled, but it allowed us to just soak up in him more and watch him grow little by little.
I've come a long way in a year.
And Over-Achieve is turning heads everywhere with the positive outlooks we have portray onto our members. We cannot wait to reopen those doors, and although it may seem like starting over...we would be dammed to think we wont work to get it back.
Sometimes you just need to smile, soak up the happiness in life, and remember God will never abandon you. He left an angel by my side at my accident who still has not left me. I am born to be a leader in health and fitness. Noah was born to have a dad who will NEVER lead him wrong and set great examples.
This epidemic has gone too far too long, but it doesn't mean we can't think about it as a learning curve and reminder to how important our health it.
Without it, moments like this would never happen.
Happy Easter, from my family to yours!
Now, go out and win your Monday.
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