When will this ever end? If this question [regarding COVID-19] has spiraled through your thoughts over the past several months, you’re not alone. The pandemic “pit of despair” is real but that doesn’t mean you have to remain stuck in its deep, dark trenches.
I’ve needed to remind myself a few times of this great Bible promise found in Acts 17:24 that “God made the world and everything in it.” The pandemic is not a surprise to the Lord. Although thousands of people have become sick, and our economy has taken a direct blow since this thing started, we can still trust that the Lord is in control. And that’s a huge reason to keep our heads up and focused as we do what we can to feel better through this season of waiting.
Just for kicks!
One activity I’ve found to be helpful and enjoyable lately is a form of exercise that I started doing several years ago called kickboxing. If you’re curious to know, you’ll find it is a great cardio workout that gets your heart rate up and allows you to move in varied positions while working off steam through its movements. And who doesn’t need to work off a bit of stress these days?
When I started this kind of exercise a few years back, I went to a class offered at a local gym. But right now, many fitness centers across the country are closed. Also, I’m somewhat leery about going to a gym due to seasonal viruses that surface during the winter months (plus the pandemic germs). So now I do kickboxing in the comfort of my own home.
If you have access to the internet, you may want to try a free kickboxing video to see how you like it. There are so many to choose from! I’ve tried several offered on YouTube®. Each video session is around twenty to thirty minutes in length—very doable!
When I finish a kickboxing workout, I truly feel rejuvenated! It’s not so taxing that it leaves me exhausted on the floor. It’s simply a great way to release some energy (or stress) through its routine of punches and full-body movements. As with most exercise routines, there is always a warm-up and cool-down segment to help phase in and out of the routine.
Try punching the pandemic stress in its face with kickboxing or another form of exercise that works for you. The main thing is to get your body (and mindset) moving away from the negative despair of our current situation and toward a renewed outlook about the many ways God continues to provide and bless us each day.