My 5 Minutes of Fame

One of my friends has shared with me a recent experience and it was too good not to write about it. (All names changed for privacy reasons).

I am Jo, 5’2’’ single lady living in the South of London. I love singing, but would never join a choir. I love people, but would never seek to be the centre of attention.

During the first lockdown, so many of us were asked to stay at home and work remotely. Such a great idea! I would roll out of bed, into my kitchen, and step right into my office. It was great not to travel to work!!!! I could stay in my comfy trousers and slippers, not worry about anyone using my Almond Milk at work, which was kept in the shared mini-fridge. I also did not miss waiting for a bus or squishing into an overcrowded train during rush hour.

I was living the dream, until I started having the most terrible back pain. I realised that although it was great working from home, I was actually working longer hours and stared at the computer screen for a lot more than before… I also realised that I needed to make a few changes to my current lifestyle. To get a quick fix for the problem, I purchased (online) a new chair to support my back, as well as a new fancy pillow to support my neck. I started wearing my indoor shoes instead of slippers to support my feet, I dug out my hot water bottle to put behind my back when working...the list goes on... but quick fixes never solve problems. All along, I knew the real answer to this pain…I needed to do more exercise.

Denial: a place where we all go when we don’t want to address an issue.

Two days before Valentine’s Day I tried on my favourite jeans… and suddenly it was no longer my favourite. It was so uncomfortable. You can guess why. So I got my mind into gear and searched for a live active online session where I would feel motivated to do what needs to be done. I found… ‘Mr. Muscle’!

The next day I jumped out of bed, got dressed in my exercise clothes, and logged in to the live session. Being an eager beaver, I happened to be the first participant to log in! It felt great bopping up and down and feeling the sweat on my brow.

It was all going really well until we finished the warm-up. Mr. Muscle unexpectedly disappeared from the live session, disconnected somehow, and I was automatically made the ‘host’ of the workout since I logged on first… I freaked out and I did not realise straight away what was happening. Everyone was looking at me and staring at their screens waiting to see what was going on… Then – in a blast – I came to my senses and realised that I am now LEADING this session! My tiny arms and legs turned into lightning rods. My shy voice transformed into a pulse of energy, motivating the other participants of this session. I expected them the look at me and stop what they were doing…but they were cheering me on, "Go, Jo! Go, Jo!". Fortunately Mr. Muscle was able to connect to the live session again.

This was my 5 minutes of fame and I aced it!

What did I learn during my 5 minutes in the spotlight?

1. I am alive, I can still move my tiny arms and legs, and I can motivate others to do so too.

2. I can overcome a scary moment, even if I am not prepared for it.

3. I should not be the first participant to log into a live exercise session.

I am not Miss Fitness yet, but I am on a journey to get there. If you have any advice or if you want to join me on this path to a healthier lifestyle, you are more than welcome.

We are all in a struggle one way or another during these testing times. Exercise can help with improving overall wellbeing and mental health. Here is a link if you want to read more about this topic:

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/publications/how-to-using-exercise#:~:text=Physical%20activity%20has%20a%20huge,can%20reduce%20stress%20and%20anxiety.

Isolated – But not Alone