By David Tepera, April 29, 2020

Every major tragedy that’s struck our country, we remember exactly what we were doing at that moment in time. Every one of us can tell a detailed story of where we were during the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

Now, at this very moment, we are in the midst of an invisible enemy. At some point in the future, you’ll look back at this time and tell the story of how you reacted. Did you panic, stay calm or get upset with this tragedy? Will your story be about determination and camaraderie or pointing the finger at others?

Since we are professional athletes and own a fitness center, it excites us to see people outside walking, running and biking. We receive emails and messages almost daily from people asking for healthy cooking and exercising tips.

So, what this means is people are using this catastrophe to improve their health. I’m hoping once we can get this economy rolling again that the healthy trend will continue.

Of course, we recognize there will still be those who’ve isolated themselves and will come out from under the rock in worse shape than before. Remember, that’s your choice. No one is telling you to sit on the couch all day stuffing your face with chips and soda.

What other areas in your life are changing during the shutdown? We have a client learning to play a musical instrument and another learning Spanish online.

Truly, I’m hoping families are strengthening relationships and spiritual beliefs. The kids, Tina and I spend almost every evening in the backyard talking about the day’s quests and game planning tomorrow’s accomplishments. Each day has its own set of goals.

No, we are not sitting idle. We are striving and being productive in every way possible. We’ve been preparing our fitness center for a comeback with a new set of guidelines.

So, again, what story are you going to tell and reflect on in the future? What positives changes are you making that will last a lifetime? I feel it’s imperative for all of us to have compassion for each other. We don’t shame anyone for their choices in this matter. We each have a different set of circumstances, so let others choose their destiny. Just make sure your story has a happy ending.