Appreciating activities you can do in
COVID-19 world is good
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| Biking is an activity that always helps me clear my mind. |
At least for me, it is always good to get out and ride one of my mountain bikes. I appreciate I can still get out and do that in this world that is gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Actually, I think it is healthy for anyone to keep enjoying
activities they might still be allowed to do during this time. You might find a
new appreciation for doing some activities you like you never had before.
Of course when the shutdowns first started in North America
around the dates of March 11 and 12, it might have been harder to keep up with
doing activities you like. As reopening plans have rolled out in various parts
of North America since the start of May, it might become easier to engage in
activities you like.
For myself living in Saskatoon, I could have started biking
right when the shutdowns happened. I should note that through most of March and
April I found it too cold to get outside and do that.
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| I enjoy biking along the Meewasin Trail in Saskatoon. |
I actually have three mountain bikes stored at my place. One
I am trying to get rid of at some point in time.
I have a blue 18-speed I bought at Canadian Tire for $108. I
use that bike when I decide to go to a store or even to go to a work place.
I will ride that bike in all sorts of adverse weather conditions.
If that bike ever gets damaged or stolen, it is not a big deal to go out and
spend another $108 for a similar bike from Canadian Tire.
I actually had the seat and tires stolen off one of those
$108 bikes, when it was locked up at a store once.
The third mountain bike is the one I baby and try to ride it
when conditions are good. It is by far my best mountain bike.
It is actually an old one too.
Believe it not, I won that one during my University of
Regina days. Back in 1999, I accompanied the U of Regina Cougars women’s
basketball team to the U Sports nationals, which were held in Thunder Bay, Ont.
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| Me with the bike I won in 1999 pictured at my Regina home in 2000. |
I only hit a half-court shot twice in my life, and one of
those came in a packed Lakehead University gym.
A family of diehard Cougars fans brought the bike home for
me to Regina.
I have used that bike out at the lake country Waskesiu in
Saskatchewan and Elkwater in Alberta. While I haven’t done any rides at those
locations this year, I find the lake rides give me my greatest sense of calm
usually because nature looks so serene.
Biking in Saskatoon is enjoyable too. I seem to get glued to
the Meewasin Trail that runs along both sides of the South Saskatchewan River.
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| It is always a treat to bike at Waskesiu. |
It is an aerobic activity I never have a problem getting
into. I find it harder to go on a long run.
With that said, I know lots of people who love to go on long
runs. In Saskatoon, you can do that too, so if you love doing that, feel free
to get out and do it.
When July rolls around, it seems everything is set to allow
baseball and softball to take place on a house league level and city league
level. While it sounds like the rules might be modified for the current
pandemic time, I would say get out and play those sports, if you enjoy them.
About two months ago, the prospect of any type of outdoor
ball appeared grim.
You also don’t have to rediscover sporting pursuits. If you
enjoy doing things like playing instruments like the guitar or piano, these
pandemic times provide opportunity to rediscover those pursuits.
If you have a talent for artistic drawing, feel free to
rediscover that gift too.
At the moment, you can go out and see family or close
friends in Saskatchewan, so spend an evening or two doing just that.
If you like to take off and go fishing, feel free to do
that.
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| I like to bike wearing jerseys of some of my favourite teams. |
When you take the time to take those pursuits up again, you might rediscover some forgotten joys.
If you have any
comments you would like to pass along about this post, feel free to email them
to stankssports@gmail.com.
