So I've been redoing some drafts on some topics but tonight I find myself simply lacking focus on them. Despite the copious amounts of time now made available, in an ironic twist I find myself busier than ever courtesy of my wife and child now ever present. But I also feel neglectful of my goals and my ideals by not continuing to offer what I can to those of our ilk in this time of crisis. Now when I say crisis I do not necessarily refer to the virus itself but rather the effects on our lives generally. Our forced isolation and the requirement for us to live in a bizarre holding pattern as it were. So tonight's topic is how to maintain both our physical and mental stability in a time where uncertainty and silence hold domain.

For some the hours can drag by. Honestly, I would say for a number of us the hours can drag by actually. Yes, a good, well disciplined Man will often be able to fill every minute with a goal, be it physical or mental, he understands the need to challenge himself constantly. However for a Man on the path, such discipline is still some ways away. There is no shame in such a thing for any man seeking to make himself more often has to walk these same paths that the greatest of Men once walked. Now for a number of those seeking self improvement there are a multitude of terms for the previous time where they lived in a state of stasis (those still like that themselves are ironically thriving in this time on entropy), the "neet", the "basement dweller", ye old classical "neckbeard". These monikers for a number of those on the path of self improvement are a former identity they are trying to break the shackles of, the shadow of the ideas behind them looming as we are forced to remain indoors lest some foul uncouth creature coughs in our direction or our delightful police forces break out a baton for the horrific crime of leaving the house for a brief walk in the country away from others. Such an utterly bizarre time we live in in that regard.

So in this time of stagnation we must more than ever fight the forces of atrophy that will settle in our own minds. I can say this from experience, my reliance upon gym equipment and the disruption to my previous routine has caused some discomfort in myself, I have noticed my belt may need to be loosened a buckle and my evenings of reading and music once being left alone of a night are now extensions of my actions during the day. I have failed in my task or keeping my body strong and my mind sharp as I am sure many others have and to those of you like me who have failed we must address this.

So how do we shatter this malaise? Well first things first, one must come to the understanding of two integral things. Firstly, this lock down, for good or ill, will not last forever. It is a temporary thing and should be treated as such. Not as a holiday, not a break, it is merely an interruption of regular service. By giving oneself an excuse such as it being a holiday or a break you are doing nothing other than cheating and betraying yourself. Pray tell, if tomorrow some negro or middle eastern creature breaks into your home, would you be as fit to deal with them as you were at the beginning of this event? Of course not, you have lost your edge. You must gain it back. This also importantly ties into the second issue with surrendering to the malaise, that of the importance of your physical form. The greatest defense in the event of this virus is a well maintained physical body maintaining a strong immune system. Regular exercise is vital to maintaining a whole slew of functions within your body and by neglecting yourself in this way you merely increase your risk dramatically. I am sure many here have heard the phrase "treat your body like a temple". Now this does not mean rub yourself with oils and incense while chanting Gregorian prayers (I say this only in jest, Gregorian chants are actually quite nice and essential oils can be highly beneficial) it does mean you must show it respect and care.