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Abstract

ently work from our homes. We’re on the computer for a good portion of our days.</p><p id="e7b0">After three days of hiking — and not following my husband’s advice to start slowly and work up to 3 miles — we did three days straight of long hikes.</p><p id="72cb">I admit that I am not in the best shape and these hikes have been difficult for me. My mom and sister felt the same way. However, we enjoyed spending time together as a family after being quarantined separately for over 2 and a half months.</p><p id="cc17">We feel beat and our muscles ache, but it felt good to get moving — and enjoy the beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.</p><h2 id="aee5">Lessons learned so far</h2><p id="efd3">I’ve learned a few lessons on this trip to this scenic location.</p><h2 id="c3b1">1. Life is precious</h2><p id="256c">My husband lost his father two months ago to double pneumonia. It was an extremely difficult valley to walk through — especially having to experience it during this coronavirus pandemic when only 10 people could attend the funeral and our immediate family had to wear masks while saying goodbye to Pop. It was hard for my husband and his big Italian family to deal with the fact that they couldn’t attend the viewing and had to social distance, without hugs, during the funeral.</p><p id="57f8">Hiking with my family and feeling exhausted while doing it, reminded me that life is precious. Many people are experiencing loss during this time — loss of loved ones, lost freedom of living normal life to protect others, and losing that intimacy of personal connection due to social distancing.</p><p id="7ce5">Focus on the important things in life, which are people and sharing that human connection with them. That

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’s been more difficult to do during quarantine life, but people have relied on technology to keep in touch. Let’s all do our best to cultivate those connections.</p><h2 id="e11f">2. Keep Going</h2><p id="57bb">That sounds like a trite statement, but it was the only thing that got me through today when I literally could barely make it on the climb back up the mountain. My legs were shaking. We stopped for water breaks along the way. About a third of the way back, we started singing songs to motivate us to keep going.</p><p id="b32c">It actually worked. We were still dead tired but singing took our minds off of the excruciating exhaustion. That was a lesson to me that even when you’re going through a difficult time, having a positive attitude can motivate you to continue moving toward your goals.</p><h2 id="c2a0">3. Enjoy nature</h2><p id="fdd1">I live in Pennsylvania. We have many scenic places and we love spending time out doors. However, this was our first time in North Carolina and seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains. We experienced breathtaking views and have enjoyed the peacefulness of being in this natural scenic area.</p><p id="7a9a">I hope you can take some time during quarantine life — and our transitioning out of it — to enjoy nature. If you can, take a walk in your neighborhood. Sit outside in your back yard. My parents recently had a wine and cheese party with their neighbors all going out to their backyards and social distancing.</p><h2 id="4b51">Keep Climbing</h2><p id="5d4d">Those words in my self-mantra encouraged me to keep going today even though my legs didn’t want to move another step.</p><p id="f1e1">Keep climbing and persevering through your valleys to the mountaintop.</p></article></body>

Keep Making the Ascent

Even when you’re dead tired

Keep climbing.

You can do it.

Yes, your legs feel like rubber and you feel like you’re about to faint any moment.

Just keep going. Don’t stop. You’re almost to the top of the long walk back through the mountain trails.

Those are the words I kept saying to myself as we — my husband, sister, two nieces, mom, and stepdad — were making the trek back to our RV, parked in a private RV resort near Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina.

We’re on day four of our vacation. We decided to get away since we’ve been cooped up so long due to the COVID-19 quarantine and the stay-at-home orders have started to be lifted in our state.

Both the indoor and outdoor pools are currently closed due to the coronavirus and the resort management is asking members to abide by social distancing practices. We are one of the few members who are at the resort this week.

Because of COVID-19, there are not many activities we can do this week. However, we are getting to spend quality time together and get to take a lot of hikes in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains.

So far, we’ve completed three of the six trails in this resort. My husband is a pest control technician and he walks for a big portion of his work day so he is used to walking a lot.

That’s not the case for the rest of us. My sister and I both currently work from our homes. We’re on the computer for a good portion of our days.

After three days of hiking — and not following my husband’s advice to start slowly and work up to 3 miles — we did three days straight of long hikes.

I admit that I am not in the best shape and these hikes have been difficult for me. My mom and sister felt the same way. However, we enjoyed spending time together as a family after being quarantined separately for over 2 and a half months.

We feel beat and our muscles ache, but it felt good to get moving — and enjoy the beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Lessons learned so far

I’ve learned a few lessons on this trip to this scenic location.

1. Life is precious

My husband lost his father two months ago to double pneumonia. It was an extremely difficult valley to walk through — especially having to experience it during this coronavirus pandemic when only 10 people could attend the funeral and our immediate family had to wear masks while saying goodbye to Pop. It was hard for my husband and his big Italian family to deal with the fact that they couldn’t attend the viewing and had to social distance, without hugs, during the funeral.

Hiking with my family and feeling exhausted while doing it, reminded me that life is precious. Many people are experiencing loss during this time — loss of loved ones, lost freedom of living normal life to protect others, and losing that intimacy of personal connection due to social distancing.

Focus on the important things in life, which are people and sharing that human connection with them. That’s been more difficult to do during quarantine life, but people have relied on technology to keep in touch. Let’s all do our best to cultivate those connections.

2. Keep Going

That sounds like a trite statement, but it was the only thing that got me through today when I literally could barely make it on the climb back up the mountain. My legs were shaking. We stopped for water breaks along the way. About a third of the way back, we started singing songs to motivate us to keep going.

It actually worked. We were still dead tired but singing took our minds off of the excruciating exhaustion. That was a lesson to me that even when you’re going through a difficult time, having a positive attitude can motivate you to continue moving toward your goals.

3. Enjoy nature

I live in Pennsylvania. We have many scenic places and we love spending time out doors. However, this was our first time in North Carolina and seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains. We experienced breathtaking views and have enjoyed the peacefulness of being in this natural scenic area.

I hope you can take some time during quarantine life — and our transitioning out of it — to enjoy nature. If you can, take a walk in your neighborhood. Sit outside in your back yard. My parents recently had a wine and cheese party with their neighbors all going out to their backyards and social distancing.

Keep Climbing

Those words in my self-mantra encouraged me to keep going today even though my legs didn’t want to move another step.

Keep climbing and persevering through your valleys to the mountaintop.