From all reports, yesterday’s snowfall was Toronto’s largest since the Mel Lastman “call-the-army” storm of 1999. Between 33 and 36cm fell Monday, depending on where you live in the city. Chaos ensued. Businesses closed, schools closed – pivoting to online learning, then reverting back to asynchronous learning, and traffic jams piled up all over our roads and highways. Fortunately, my schedule of patients were respectful to reschedule to later in the week. Then, today, more of the same, as schools and businesses stayed closed, people stayed off the streets to allow the city to begin the clean-up. Most of my schedule of patients today rescheduled again. As I type this blog, I plan to finally return to the office to care for a few patients in need of treatment. Thank you to everyone who was content to reschedule. It kept me safe, and afforded me the time to shovel my driveway, dig our cars out from the mounds of snow, and help my neighbours with the same. There is something very Canadian to find community on the street while shovelling, and assisting stuck cars dig out from their spinning wheels.
I write this blog to highlight the unprecedented time we are living in right now. Not only would yesterday’s snowstorm have caused havoc in our city in the best of times, but we are all still living through the Covid pandemic. We are all sacrificing. My son hasn’t had the routine of “going to school” for three straight grades (grade 3 – 5). Businesses all over the city (province, country, globally) are struggling. The hospitals are overrun with Covid patients, on top of the usual caseloads of patients. The sense of community I felt while shovelling yesterday (and today) reminds me how important it is to take a step back and recognize how many people need help right now. I know there are many that have already declared the pandemic over, or were/are unaffected by the snow storm, but it is really important to recognize that we’re all in different circumstances, and some need all the help they can get. If you’re able, lend a hand. Sometimes lending a hand is by shovelling your neighbour’s driveway, or sacrificing profit by closing your business, or simply not belly-aching if your chiropractor cannot make it into the office.
With that said, snow shovelling is hard. I think I’ve logged about 10 hours of shovelling between yesterday and today. This morning’s community shovelling efforts were filled with aches and pains chatter. My neighbour two doors down has his “tennis elbow” barking at him. My forearms and shoulder blades are aching. Others were complaining of sore backs and headaches due to the tension in their shoulders. So, when the snow is clear and your body is screaming at you for some help, don’t hesitate to book an appointment with me soon. Whether I use soft tissue techniques, spinal manipulation, or my amazing new Laser Therapy device, I will be available to look after you (of course, dependent on school closures, snowstorms, pandemics, and whatever else could be thrown our way).
Reminder: Snow shovelling is exercise. The snow is heavy and requires various body positions to push, lift, and throw. Your entire body gets a work out when there is this much snow. So, take it slow, take breaks, and don’t forget to hydrate. Then visit the chiropractor!