God Damn Motherf#cking COVID-19!!!!!!!
Ugh……We have been living through this Global Pandemic for two years now!
People have lost their lives.
Employees have lost their jobs.
Employers have lost their businesses.
The Stock Market is tanking.
Interest Rates are rising.
Inflation appears to be occurring.
And a potential recession looms on the horizon…….
My apologies for my dismal outlook on life in which I am projecting this week. In all honesty, I should feel relieved that after 22 months of living through this Pandemic that I have been able to remain relatively healthy and have continued to grow my business during such uncertain times. However after the Government here in British Columbia forced the closures of Gyms across the Province for close to a month, (which obviously heavily impacted our business) I had quite a bit of time to sit back and reflect on these past two years. And even though I’ve tried my best to remain professional, optimistic, and empathetic towards EVERYONE (including those who share different views than I on how to handle COVID-19) I have to regretfully admit that I am mentally closing in on defeat.
Did I Change My Stance On COVID-19?
I know that I can be an asshole at times (just ask any of my ex girlfriends) however I like to think of myself as a fairly diplomatic asshole at best. And this diplomatic asshole has always tried his absolute best to look at all sides, all opinions and all viewpoints when it comes to COVID-19. No, I’m most certainly not an Anti-Vaxxer. No, I don’t want our hospitals to become overwhelmed. No, I don’t want to see more people die from this virus that has proven deadly to many. No, I don’t think the economy should shut down again. No, I don’t think we should get rid of masks in public places such Grocery Stores, Shopping Malls, Restaurants, etc. And No, I don’t care if my stance on this Global Pandemic causes me to lose business. I do however understand why many people disagree with me and I respect their rights and their beliefs.
Listen, I recently lost 4 weeks worth of business. My rent was not subsidized, we continued to pay our contractors, and the Government offered us a measly $2000 COVID Relief Grant (which any Small Business Owner will tell you does not go very far when divided by 4 weeks). However I did not bitch and I did not complain. Instead I took the time off from working in my business and poured it all into working on my business. While other Fitness Professionals cried on their social media platforms about how unjust and how corrupt the Government had become for closing down their gyms, I decided to use the time to my benefit and strategize on how we as a company could potentially rebrand, reshape and restructure ourselves for the better. Fast forward 4 weeks later and that’s exactly what we have accomplished.
Life isn’t Fair So Do Something About It!
We all know that life isn’t fair. So why do so many of us continue to bitch and complain when things don’t go our way? I was embarrassed when I saw people crying in their IG stories about their workouts being disrupted by the recent gym closures here in B.C. I was mortified when I read posts calling our Head Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry a “Bitch” and a “Slut” because of the restrictions in which she imposed on large group gatherings. And I was ashamed when I heard of some people who I knew and once respected, quoting stupidity rather than science in my newsfeeds.
I may not have agreed with the latest restrictions that were passed down in our province a few weeks ago. In fact, I publicly stated that I believed it to be simply a political move. And I am well aware of the numerous benefits of exercise for both our physical and mental health. However acting out irrationally and emotionally online without giving any actual thought to the current situation surrounding the Coronavirus and its variants, is irresponsible, and just makes people look ignorant.
So What’s The Solution?
I, like many of you, don’t know of an actual solution with regards to how we should continue to tread lightly or stomp aggressively towards defeating this virus once and for all.
I, like many of you, also don’t think we will ever fully defeat this virus once and for all.
And I, like many you, have decided to learn how to adapt to living in our “new normal”, and continue to look for ways in which I can reinvent both myself and my business in order to adjust and survive in this new climate.
Therefore even though I don’t have a solution, I no longer have a problem either. Because rather than trying to solve a problem that continues to change and evolve monthly (Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Omicron) I have decided to work with the problem and adjust accordingly with the times as they occur.
“I’m going to take the high road because the low road is so crowded.”
Mia Farrow
Yours in Good Health,
Nick Cosgrove
Forever Fit Performance