91 days
Wow
What a whirlwind three months it has been.
On Monday, when we return to ½ Torca Terrace, it will have been 91 days since our last class, 91 days since we shut the doors in response to the government’s lockdown and 91 days since life was ‘somewhat normal’.
So much has happened. We have all come together whilst being apart, people trained, walked, experienced in ways that wouldn’t have been possible beforehand. We ran a marathon and raised over 5k for beyond blue in a true reflection of the quality and commitment of our community.
This may well be the only time in our lives when we have all been affected, universally, for so long by something so far outside of our control. Something that has affected us all, in so many different ways.
This has been a three month period in which life was effectively put on hold. A time in which many of us lost jobs, income, social connection and normality. A time in which we have gained so much perspective, appreciation, and humility (hopefully your fitness can be placed in the gained category).
We had to pivot, in one way or another, to adapt and overcome the challenges that we all faced, both together and alone. We were all scared, excited, confused, anxious and frustrated in different ways and at different times. We have all felt the breadth of human emotions over the past 91 days, all of which has led us to this point.
Just for a moment, stop, take a breath and appreciate how far you have come.
We all view the world through our own unique perspective. The way I experience this moment in time, will be completely different to how each of you do. This is the beauty of being human. This is also one of the most frustrating aspects of the human condition. Empathise as we may, we can never truly understand or appreciate how others are feeling, or what they are going through.
Realising and acknowledging this gap, I have something to say (obviously seeing you’re halfway through an email)
To all of the healthcare workers who have continued to show up to work,
To all of the Mums and Dads who have integrated home schooling into their lives,
To all of the teachers who shifter their entire syllabus online in a matter of days,
To all of the students who have had to stare at a computer screen for hours on end,
To all of the small business owners who either closed their doors or changed their offering,
To all of the tradesmen and women who continued to build, fix and improve,
To all of the employees who were stood down due to no fault of their own,
To all of the friends who have reached out, asked after and connected,
To all of the grandparents, and family members who spend months at home alone,
To all of the employees who worked from home and continued to contribute,
To all of the parents who were at home with little ones doing their best to stay safe and sane.
To our entire community. Thank you for all that you’ve done over the past 88 days. We can’t completely appreciate what you’ve been through, or how hard things may have been. You are not alone in your suffering, it is universal, and sometimes it helps to know that.
To all of you who have supported Virtus, I can never articulate how grateful and appreciative we are. We appreciate you all more than you know, and we are so thankful to every single one of you.
To risk sounding cliche, Monday the 22nd of June can be a fresh start for all of us. The last few months may have been the turning point for many of us on our journey through life, it may have reinforced why you do what you do, or it may have forced a look in the mirror. It may have given you perspective, resolve and given you the nudge to do things differently.
The next few weeks will be challenging in new and different ways. But there is one thing I know for sure, after 91 days, ½ Torca Terrace has never been more ready to welcome and celebrate the wonderful people that occupy it. The team is itching to help make happier and healthier humans and undoubtedly our community is hungry to connect and do good things.
As we move towards not a new normal, but a better future, know that things will change, things that may have stayed the same for a long time. Change is hard, but positive change for the right reasons can help us make the world a better place. Understand that everyone will have to make concessions and remember to be kind. Firstly to yourselves, and secondly to each other. Be patient, feel how you need to feel and know that you’re doing your best.
You’re not playing the same game you were three months ago, it’s a whole new game and it’s time to take the first step.
I am here to support you.
Be amazing.
Wallace.
