It’s interesting as you age. Every movement is accompanied by some crack or squeak. There are sporadic shots of pain for no apparent reason. Your brain communicates messages of movement, but your body is hesitant to respond. It takes a concentrated effort to make any advance. This can be disheartening because you’re eager to be as active as you were when you were younger, but time is winning.
I’ve received advice from my primary physician for years to be more active. It is logical and reasonable encouragement. I know that being more active, eating better, and looking out for my overall health makes sense. The pull of inertia, tiredness, and mental exhaustion often causes me to remain motionless even though I know better. You know the saying – “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” That’s where I found myself.
Enter Wags, our grand dog. I’ve written about him often because he’s been such a bright spot in our lives. A few weeks ago, my wife and daughter went on a mother/daughter vacation to Tybee Island and Savannah, Georgia. That meant that Wags and I were brought together. It was magnificent !! You see, Wags is a bundle of frenetic energy while also being an incredibly well-behaved companion. He will patiently wait at the front window, longing for your return. When you hit the door . . . it’s on. He wants to give you ALL of his attention, and he expects ALL of yours !! It’s a fair exchange.
We spent hours playing in our backyard. He would chase an object, bring it back, and then refuse to give it up. Playing keep away was almost as fun as chasing. I think if he could laugh or make a snarky comment about my efforts to retrieve the ball, frisbee, or giant egg, he would. Playing, I soon found out, was just the warm-up lap. He expected me to get out his leash and harness so we could go for an extended walk. Not kidding. If we went a mile, he’d look back as if to say, “Good start. Let’s keep going.”
Each day, we averaged two to three miles per walk. We’d both collapse after getting back, and it felt great !! He never felt the pull of staying put. He needed to move and refused to do it alone. It was exactly the inspiration I required. I looked forward to our daily treks. I had him over the Labor Day holiday weekend, so I chose to drive out to a State Park to up our game. We hiked for miles on trails and through creek beds. I noticed that each day we were active, I felt better. Yes, my creaks and cracks were still present, but I didn’t become discouraged. The soreness meant I was using muscles that were designed to move and not be dormant.
After Wags returned home with Melanie, I had a choice. I could easily return to the world of being sedentary, or I could keep moving one step at a time. I began a nightly routine after work of walking. I didn’t let the excuse of the weather or the reality of a challenging day stop me. I decided to walk anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour through my neighborhood. It’s been just what I needed. I was finally following my doctor’s instructions. Finally.
Where are you stuck? What is keeping you in place, unable to move? We all have areas like this. All of us. Here’s what I know. If we aren’t healthy ourselves, we can’t help others be healthy. It’s contradictory. Let me encourage you not to fall into the trap of thinking about giant shifts and impossible leaps. Take one step. Just one. Then the next one. See where you find yourself going !!
