The discarded trees have been picked up. The lights no longer glow bright with brilliant color. The twinkling star has been taken down and packed away until next year. It’s time to say goodbye to a wonderful year and welcome in the next; all the while maintaining hope that this New Year will be better than the last.
With the best of intentions, many of us make resolutions for the New Year. We all know the most common of those is to be better to ourselves. We vow to loose weight, eat healthier, or just improve our overall well being with daily exercise. Whatever the promise, it quickly fades without motivation. Personally, my healthy resolution usually lasts about one week. This year, however, it has been a bit different. Although I didn’t know it at the time, I was about to gain a workout buddy!
Our morning routine is as ordinary as they come! Only the last few weeks have included a morning workout. I, of course, have attempted to find any excuse to avoid going downstairs to our home gym. “It’s too cold”….”I’m too tired”…and my all time favorite...”what’s the use, it doesn’t do any good anyway”. It’s no secret that I would love to avoid self inflicted exercise at all costs. Thankfully, I stuck to it four out of the first 7 days of the year! Thankful not just for me, but for what our new routine has provided Jersey .
We all know Jersey loves to play soccer. In fact, that was just what she was doing when she suffered a spinal injury last September. So, while I’m moving through stretches, jumps, lunges and squats, Jersey is running the length of the room playing soccer! She has learned that she can strategically place her ball so that I can give it a kick and not miss a step in my routine! She spends a full hour running, shooting, and chasing her ball. Not bad for a three legged dog with a bad back! Shooting is tough as she needs both front paws….one to position the ball and one to give it a swat. This act forces her to engage both her back legs. Her left hind leg is the strongest but not enough to withstand a full hour of play. She has to use her right leg or give up the game. “Get up on that foot, Jerz”, is a regular command now. We say it in a light, playful voice. She responds eagerly; as though her coach just took her off the bench and put her back in the game! After just a few weeks of our workout routine, she is regaining muscle in the right leg and more use of it everyday.
On these cold January mornings, I am awakened by Jersey in an attempt to get me up and moving. She eagerly sits by the door waiting for me to tell her it’s time to go workout. In fact, she knows that the word “workout” means its soccer time! She races down the stairs to get the game started. I will admit I am not nearly as excited about this as she is! After everything Jersey has been through in the last few months, I could never find any excuse good enough to skip our workout and disappoint her! I have to wonder though, is she my motivation or am I hers? Whatever the case, we are sticking to our resolution and will continue to motivate each other!
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