Illustration by Lucas Ballasy. Made in Figma.
Early on in the pandemic, I remember being nervous that exercising in my apartment would disturb the downstairs neighbors. Instead of simply texting them and asking, I stacked yoga mats, modified workouts, and did whatever I could to dampen the sound. Burpees are just not the same when you're worried about how hard your hitting the floor.
One day while heading out for a walk, we ran into each other. I mentioned my workouts and asked if it was bothering them. Their response:
"We rarely hear it, and when we do, we actually like it. It's a good reminder to be active. We end up working out or going out for a walk."
The discomfort created by assumptions outweighs any temporary discomfort felt when removing them. The sooner, the better.
Monday, May 10, 2021
