This pandemic has definitely affected the every day lives of people including our close knit senior ladies group. It has been quite difficult not to be able to go to the dojang for our evening classes. Our classes are not only for much needed exercise and fitness, but more importantly it is our time to share our day, lives, joys, troubles, triumphs, and laughs with each other. It is our mental, physical, and even a bit of a spiritual release.
Being isolated for long periods of time can be emotionally and physically trying. I know from my experience with cancer and its subsequent side effects, etc., how hard it is to not be able to have daily contact with people. So to have to do it again after feeling like I was finally able to go out into the world to play was rather a huge let down. My saving grace through all of this isolation has been Master Angela Staup’s daily connections with us.
She stays in touch with us through text, phone, email, instagram, and facebook. Since some of us don’t have at home internet or don’t do facebook, Master Staup has made it a point to make sure to use the different forms of technology to reach all of us and to provide us with meditations, workouts both written and video, exercise tips, updated health information, and even humor. Our texting group, she started, has kept us uplifted and laughing.
This last week she planned a safe distancing snowshoe outing for us ladies. We really were missing each other; we were properly garbed and kept more than a six foot space between us. We felt so joyful laughing and chatting as we snowshoed. It was a perfect sunny mini adventure. After we were done, she tossed us each our own workout bands and straps to be able to continue our at home workouts. We felt reenergized after this day and vowed to do another one next week. In the meantime, we have our exercise routines and poomsaes to practice.
I deeply appreciate all the effort Master Angela Staup has put in to helping not just us senior ladies, but all the members and friends of McCall Taekwondo. She has provided us hope, inspiration, and motivation, which has kept us from sinking into depression and anxiety. She has really embraced the motto, “We are all in this together.” With Master Staup’s help and daily connections, I know we will be fine and look forward to when we return to the dojang. 💙
~Mrs. Debra Staup
1st Dan