Members of the Zeamo community,
As we struggle to process what is happening in our communities at this time, we find ourselves filled with sorrow, grief, and outrage. The senseless and avoidable deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and countless others have left us feeling wary of what the future holds, especially at a time when so much else is uncertain. While the focus of our blog is usually health, fitness, and wellness—the grief that we feel is simply unavoidable. With this in mind, the mental health of our community members is a serious priority.
Taking mental health seriously during this difficult time begins by acknowledging the impact of the current social climate. This entire situation has a severe and very personal effect on many of our friends and colleagues. Therefore, we must support each other. To our black members, friends, coworkers, and loved ones, we want you to know that we see you, and we are here for you. We are prepared to listen carefully, and with intention, to how we can best support you. We stand with you.
This is a time for action, but it is also a time for compassion. We encourage the members of our community to take time to rest, reflect, and recharge. While this may feel self-indulgent, it is important to take care of ourselves in order to best take care of each other. We must think carefully about the actions we take moving forward—a task that will be easier if we are kind to ourselves. That said, we do encourage our community members to engage in thoughtful self-reflection.
We also want to highlight the importance of taking seriously the mental strain on work and life during this time. In order to bring one’s authentic self to work each day (even while working remotely), we must recognize the amount of stress we’re currently faced with. Isolation comes with its own set of challenges, and worrying about the safety and wellbeing of our friends and family creates an additional mental burden. This is why being kind to yourself and others is especially important. Your feelings are valid.
The fact of the matter is, there are no words to fully capture how we are all feeling at this moment. More than anything else, we want you to know that we are here for you. At Zeamo, we are constantly reminded that the best part of our fitness community is the people who embody the spirit of our mission.
We are looking forward to better days ahead. Let’s get there together.
Sincerely,
The Zeamo Team
