“Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt.”
John Muir
Welcome to The Vibe!
The blog that says it wants to get together over the holidays then ghosts you until January.
Each week we discuss one IDEA to help you live a better life.
This week’s topic is how to stay healthy during a pandemic.
And why sometimes NATURE is the best medicine.
The Vibe: Ruck & Roll
Everyone is done with this pandemic.
But this pandemic doesn’t seem to be done with us.
2020 has been a STREET FIGHT.
A global pandemic.
A contentious election.
Virtual school.
And to top it all off…
And we have no idea if we should be rooting for Daniel-san or Johnny Lawrence. (…No Mercy!)
We didn’t ask for any of this.
But it’s here.
And we need the best version of ourselves to show up each day to FIGHT THROUGH IT.
A strong BODY and a clear MIND are essential.
But that’s way easier said than done.
Pandemics crush routines.
They blow up the familiar.
They close gyms.
Or at least make gyms NOT the ideal place to be.
Running on a treadmill, next to a sweaty dude in a “Tough Mudder” tank top with no mask, is not on my pandemic bucket list.
Pandemics force creativity.
In 2020, OUTSIDE became the new gym.
Get Rolling
Pre-COVID, biking was something my wife & I did only on vacation and BK. (Before Kids).
When we moved out of the city, we hung up our bikes in the garage of our new townhome.
Fifteen years and 3 kids later, we took those bikes down for the very first time to put them in a moving van.
Who said kids won’t change them? LOL.
2020?
We’ve been logging 4-5 bike rides a week.
I forgot how MIND CLEARING outdoor bike rides are.
It’s awesome cardio.
Rolling past the fall colors is spectacular.
The brisk air is therapeutic.
Your head clears.
The mind resets.
A bike ride still gives me that mini vacation feel.
Which is so needed during a year like this one.
Go Ruck
Early in the pandemic walking also made a comeback.
Walking may be the most timeless exercise.
2,000 years ago, the Roman philosopher Seneca wrote, “We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing.”
We started by taking short walks on cold March nights.
The walks evolved into longer hikes through neighborhoods I never knew existed.
It was great to be OUTSIDE and MOVING.
But something was missing.
The walks were good for the mind.
But the body needed more.
After a long walk, I still felt like I needed to workout.
Then the answer appeared…
During a walk I was listening to David Goggin’s incredible book, “Can’t Hurt Me.” Goggin’s writes how he uses a weighted “ruck bag” for endurance training.
A few days later, I read Tim Ferris’ blog post raving about his favorite new purchase, the “Go Ruck” bag.
Sold.
I’ve been using the “Go Ruck” for 5 months.
It’s fantastic.
The “Go Ruck” is a weighted backpack that turns your walk into a workout.
It’s low impact.
And helps you build STRENGTH and ENDURANCE.
Two things we all need more of in 2020.
Hands down my favorite pandemic purchase.
This past year has been a slog.
The only certainty is that life is going to keep crashing into us.
So let’s keep our minds CLEAR and bodies STRONG.
Find something that works for you.
Get outside.
Get creative.
Get moving.
It’s never been more essential.
#RuckAndRoll
Joe Ciccarone
The Vibe 