Letters to the editor: One more thing to do in times of uncertainty: Get outside

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, we are being asked these days to do some things to protect ourselves and others from the spread of the illness. Wash your hands. Social distance. Work remotely if you can. Stay home if you are ill, and keep your coughs and sneezes to yourself please. (Someone missed the memo about not hoarding toilet paper.) Did I mention wash your hands? I am going to add another one: Take a walk.

When I was growing up, my mom liked it when we were outside every day. I remember times when she would make us get outside, even if it was just to get the mail. It didn’t matter what the weather was like. We had boots, she said, and we needed to clear our lungs out.

I am not sure if that mindset is a result of a parent growing up during the Depression but it seemed to work for both our health and growth: using our bodies and filling our lungs with cleansing, clean air.

As I walked this morning, I was keenly aware of the social distance of my companions — my dogs Auggie and Bella — as they stretched their leashes ahead of me. Their noses picked up on the scents of this warmish, sunny, mid-March day. It felt good to be outside in the crisp air, and not consumed with the statistics rattled off daily about the spread of COVID-19. Taking a deep breath, my head cleared, and so did my lungs. I felt a calm amid the storm.

My thoughts circled back to my mom, now 92 and living in a local care facility. Right now, she can’t receive any visitors. We are grateful for the staff that takes care of her daily. We are able to Facetime with her and, when things clear, we will continue to get her out as much as we can to air her lungs and allow the restorative sunshine to bathe her in good rays. She doesn’t walk at all now, but being outside is just as natural for her as breathing. Clearly, the wisdom of being outside daily all these years has worked well for her body and mind.

So if you are able, get outside. The sidewalks are clearing. If not, Cloquet has many spaces that allow for social distancing. Take a deep breath and clear your head of the noise this virus brings. We will get through this, one step at a time.

Jody Acers, Cloquet