I packed my stuff and left France in a hurry. Word had just gone out that all of France was going under lockdown for a minimum of two weeks. Rumors had been spreading that it would go on for at least 45 days…turns out, they weren’t rumors. I didn’t pack much, I hadn’t expected that I would be gone so long. Easter hadn’t even crossed my mind, I had no nice clothes in my luggage.

I knew if I came to L.A I would still have an opportunity to train, at least for a little while. Find random tracks until they’ve been closed down. Then head to any open grass field I could find. A couple of times I’ve been approached by a police officer. Sometimes they would hear my story and let me finish training, other times not.

When the news came out that the 2020 Olympics was postponed I was heartbroken. I had uprooted my life to train so that I could stand on the podium by the end of this year. I laid in bed for hours letting it all sink in. Uncertainty gloomed over all my thoughts. How long would they postpone it? When can I go back to France? How will I get my training in?

Logically I know that the closing of beaches, bars, theaters, and other unnecessary services, as well as postponing events is 100% pertinent if we are going to get through this pandemic. For the safety of those at risk, we ALL have to do our part.

This Easter I was reminded that we are not in control. We lose our minds trying to regulate everything in our lives, only to realize that we can’t. We can’t control when this pandemic will end. We can’t control the fact that our lives have been put on pause, or that the plans we had for ourselves this year may not come into fruition exactly when we wanted them to. But the hard fact is, never, did we ever, have control.

Trying to plan too much will have you missing out on what time we have now. Time to grow mentally and spiritually. Time to get fit (since you apparently never had any before). Time to connect with your loved ones that you never call. Time to invest. Time to learn. Time to actually sit still and live in this very moment.

When things “normalize” you will not be the same. You will be better. You will be stronger. You will be more prepared to take on everything that God has planned for you.

The Olympics has not been canceled for me, the goals have not changed, just the date, and (as everyone has already stated on Instagram) when it comes I will be more than ready.

With All the Love I Own,

Tori F. Baby

#livehappii #ready #coronavirus #quaratine