COVID-19 - Through struggle comes strength
On December 31st, 2019 I became the sole proprietor of OneUp Fitness after 12 years as a personal trainer. Three months later we were shut down for over 70 days. Talk about ‘trial by fire’. Entrepreneurship is hard enough without having to navigate a pandemic.
Yes, it has been a challenging go these past 2 years ‘living with COVID’. It has impacted everyone on some level whether personal or professional or both. The fitness industry took a hard hit, especially the larger gyms and group-based facilities. Our own business was subject to 3 separate shutdowns tallying roughly 5 months with the lights off. Not to mention the loss of some prospective and current teammates and clients along the way. Uncertainty was, and to a large extent still is, the word.
However, we have endured, we’ve learned a lot from this experience and we are stronger for it.
A new year has started, and we are more excited than ever to continue our efforts in helping our clients with their health and fitness endeavours.
I believe the shift now for us globally is to place our focus back on ourselves. I don’t mean this selfishly, what I mean is to focus more of our attention on doing what makes us happy and healthy. To take our eyes off of the tally’s and tragedies and invest our energy into what we can control. If we don’t shift our attention towards the things that are beautiful in our lives, the things we are grateful for, and; creating positive visions of the future, then life can get (or stay) miserable quickly.
This year, 2022, I want to challenge all of you reading this to spend more time on yourself, your happiness, and your health. We are fortunate enough to be able to create our own paths and we are afforded many freedoms here in Nova Scotia. It is time to take back our health; both physical and mental.
Personally, I am grateful for everything that has happened. The times in my life when I’ve learned the most have always followed times of despair, struggle and the hardest work. COVID is no exception. It is interesting how difficult times can create resilience, innovation and strength for those who are willing to learn from them.
I feel less anxious, more confident, and grateful heading into this year than any other. Why? Mostly because I am confident in my ability to figure shit out. I think we all have this superpower in us; tapping into it and believing in ourselves is the practice. Having an awesome team and supportive family and friends by my side has been a huge contributor to that confidence. Thank you to those of you who’ve been there for me, and for our small business, you know who you are. We pay it forward everyday by passionately bringing our best in the strength studios and serving our clients with pride.
On behalf of the team here at OneUp Fitness, I wish you all a HEALTHY and HAPPY 2022!