Breathe in, four, three, two, one. Breathe out four, three, two, one.

My life has changed considerably since 1 year ago when the pandemic began. I’ve moved, changed jobs, met someone very special and decided to follow my intuition and not worry so much about the outcomes. I can honestly say that I am happy. This is not to say that everything is going my way, or that things are perfect, or that my depression is all gone - it will forever be a part of me - but I am happy. I am optimistic. I believe that most people are good and kind and loving. I hold onto this belief of others because I am good and kind and loving. Everyone deserves happiness. Everyone deserves peace.

Breathe in, four, three, two, one. Breathe out four, three, two, one.

Summer is waning and my calendar is booked solid. At some point I’m seeing a band on a Thursday, going to Pitchfork Music Festival on the Friday, and running a half-marathon on the Saturday of the same week! I’m working on getting my group fitness certification which involves a lot of studying (I should be halfway done by the end of next week!). Traveling to the southwest for its beautiful landscapes and a particularly beautiful and caring guy - (my bleeding heart, left-handed Cancer whom I coincidentally met under a full moon). Thankfully the job I have now, while not extremely lucrative, affords me the TIME to explore other aspects of my life that I enjoy. Having a busy schedule can at times bog me down with checking off lists, achieving, and moving on to the next. To slow down and live more in the moment, I am practicing mindfulness as best as I can to be more present during all of the fun activities that I’ve missed doing due to the pandemic. As a regimented Virgo, living in the moment can be challenging.

Breathe in, four, three, two, one. Breathe out four, three, two, one.

My recent travels, family gatherings, concerts and other alcohol fueled hang-outs with friends can be fun but these activities can also make me feel scattered. They alter my routine. They can make me forget about taking care of myself. Exercising, yoga, running whatever are keystones to my feeling of stability. No matter what’s going on in my life I can come back to these activities. I come back to myself. I know that no matter what, I have something I can focus on. I can look inside myself, find the motivation, and get moving. This focus and drive to be active readjusts me back into who I am. It serves as a reminder that this is what I do. This is what I’ll keep doing. This is my focus. To be active, to be mindful, to be well.

Breathe in, four, three, two, one. Breathe out four, three, two, one.

This is an invitation to view physical activity as means to get reacquainted with yourself, with your body, with your mind. Let it be a part of who you are. Let this habit of well-being not feel selfish or narcissistic instead use it as a tool for your internal focus. Enjoy your life, travel, get drunk, party with your friends, and just know that you will come back to yourself on your yoga mat, on the bench, or hitting the pavement. You can be both. You can have fun and be mindful. You can make your life look like whatever you want. Get vaccinated, be safe, stay focused on being well.