Back Before, I'd walk three to five miles a day (in good weather) between clients and meetings in Manhattan. I haven't been putting quite that much mileage on my sneakers lately, but I've been doing a circuit through my Brooklyn neighborhood. I'm almost getting used to wearing a mask whenever I leave the house. And outside it's beautiful these days: spring has sprung and I am grateful to see these signs of hope..
Others in my house have found new and creative ways to exercise their bodies and quiet their minds. Everyone I know, it seems, has a favorite online workout. There's even renewed interest in the soap treadmill craze that swept China last spring. Meanwhile, The New York Times writes that some of our new routines may annoy neighbors. People find workarounds, most notably by exercising something else--patience. Because we all understand that New Yorkers gotta move!
As we physically exert ourselves, we're reminded of the importance of breathing, of the power of the single breath. These days I feel that we're existing in a time of cosmic breath-holding. That space of waiting between inhalation and exhalation. As a singer, it echos what I feel when the conductor raises her baton for the upbeat, right before we release our song. In that moment time stands still.
But once time starts up again, once we collectively exhale, our thinking--and the way forward--will become clearer. We'll be actively engaged with the world around us. Whether it's diving back in the pool or walking miles and miles down Broadway, we'll be back and we'll be doing.
In the meantime, don't hold your breath!
