Of a certain age...

I had the sad experience of losing my best friend and companion of 10 years 15 months ago but I've managed to turn that into a positive. Spirit was an Aussie-chocolate lab with a personality that drew everyone to her. She always carried one of her stuffed animals in her mouth when we walked around Sisters. People would stop their cars or walk across the street to say hello to her. One day she was carrying her mallard duck and a man walking by commented, "I see she caught her breakfast! Good dog." It was her job to put a smile of peoples' faces and warm their hearts.

It got really hard the last six months. A walk around the block became an hour struggle - in bad weather, late at night, a nightmare. She had two ACL surgeries years before and her hip dysplasia was getting really bad. Sometimes she would collapse and not be able to get up, and I'd have to sit and wait until she could get up or go get my car. Our walks became shorter and shorter. Then came the day she just couldn't get up anymore. I felt like my life was over, too.

After a few months of being really distraught, I realized my body was cramping up. I seemed to be not breathing more than I was breathing. My blood pressure was up. My weight was up. I was depressed. Not going out. Something had to change.

So I started walking. Hurt like the dickens! My feet hurt. My knees hurt. My hips hurt. I was out of breath. And I realized I hadn't been walking for the past year because as Spirit slowed down, I slowed down with her, and when she was gone, I no longer had a reason to walk. But now I felt the spirit of Spirit walking with me and I was able to pick up speed and walk further, and I started feeling better. I got up every morning at the crack of dawn no matter what the weather and stretched my daily walk into three miles in less than an hour.

Unfortunately that only lasted a year because my hips really began to bother me, even occasionally having to use a cane around the house. I was afraid I might fall and not be able to get myself home. Then I tripped one day going up a curb in town and jammed my knee, and that essentially ended my walking.

The good news is I've adapted and gotten myself into a modified daily exercise routine and nutrition program that keeps me feeling good. I used to do yoga but hadn't done it regularly for years. I have to take thyroid medication every morning, and I can't eat for at least half an hour so my new exercise routine has become: wake up, take pill, do yoga for 45 minutes, then have breakfast before getting on the computer.

I adopted a cat a few months ago ... needed another fur person in my life and decided on one that didn't need to be taken for walks. Coco does yoga with me every morning. Well, at least she entangles herself with my body until I stop and comb her, and then she goes back to sleep.

So for people who think they can't change or can't get themselves to exercise or think life is just too much sometimes, take your spirit for a walk or do yoga or Sweatin' to the Oldies or Zumba. Just do it every day where it fits into your routine. It can give you a whole new outlook on life and your body stays healthier longer.