This is Deputy Digby Pancake. Have you missed me? I know that you have. I have missed talking to you. I have missed howling at you. I have missed smiling at you. I am ready to turn that frown upside down. I am also ready to get rid of this rum bag.
Girl Person says that I did pretty good this week, actually. I was really patient and calm. Well. Most of the time. I got lots of treats and hugs and Girl Person even sang to me when Boy Person changed my bandages.
I wish that I could throw this rum bag to wherever rum bags live, but it looks like I still have a few more days to heal probably. The persons say that today we can try and go on a very short walk. Baby steps, they said. Baby steps. So now, instead of just a rum bag, I have baby socks on…which seems highly inappropriate.
But, if I know one thing besides pancakes, it is that you gotta do what you gotta do. And what I have to do is get better. But part of getting better sometimes is realizing that you can’t fix everything in a hurry. You can’t rush to fix it. The only thing you can do is let it be.
Persons think that if they don’t fix everything right away that it ain’t worth fixing. They have no patience to wait on healing. So they keep going. They keep going with injuries that can’t get better. They make things worse until nothing works at all. Including themselves. Well. Naps were invented for a reason. Resting was invented for a reason. And dogs were invented for a reason. I may not have hurt my paw on purpose, but it made us heal with purpose. All of us. And once I rested, and I made everyone else rest, I ventured out without my rum bag. And I tried.
No, things didn’t go so smooth. Obviously, I might still need my rum bag for some of the time. But I know that if I keep going slow, I will get faster. I will eventually be back to what I was before. And maybe, just maybe, we would have all learned a lesson. That if you push too hard, you eventually can’t. Going faster doesn’t mean you get any further.
So this weekend, it is going to be all about baby steps and protecting the healing I have done. No matter what you are facing in life, feel good about the fact that you don’t have to wear a rum bag. But if you need to heal something, deal with it before it becomes an emergency. Taking it slow may be more effort than moving fast for some. But however long it takes you to get better, move at your own pace. And ask someone to slow dance with you if you need some help. I can help. Can I have this dance?
Take it from me. A rum bag can’t fix everything. But you can. Only you have the power to fix what needs to be fixing. And you are worth the time. Start with baby steps.
-Deputy Digby Pancake
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Well, Digby, I guess you’re proving the adage, “Slow and steady wins the race.” Just take it slow and steady. About 3 years ago, my son was riding his bicycle on his way to work (he’s a teacher at a school in Fukuoka, Japan), and a lady on her way to work in a car hit him. Killed his bicycle, and did a number on his knee. He had to have surgery to fix that. And in Japan, they don’t just operate and throw you out; they keep you in the hospital for about 3 weeks. He had a lot of physical therapy and some really fancy braces for his knee for nearly a year. But he did what the doctors instructed. After a year, they had to operate again to take out the pins and plates, then he had to have more physical therapy. The lady’s insurance company bought him a new bicycle and he really wanted to get on it and go for a long ride, but he had to take it slow and steady. And when the doctor said it was o.k., he started riding his bike. And he started going to the gym again, but “baby steps” at first. Now, he’s fine. Two weeks ago, he rode over 60 miles on a Saturday ride. His goal is to make a 100 mile ride. Slow and steady, Digby. But you don’t have to go for a 100 mile hike. Just back to your usual; wait until you’re healed and you can be back on the trail.
Aw…poor Digby!! I’ve missed a post somewhere apparently…what happened to the poor boy? That paw looks really sore (from the little video clip anyway)…glad it’s healing up. 🙁
He cut it, but nobody knows how. It was bleeding quite a bit, They consulted a vet and are following instructions, which means he doesn’t get to go on the long hikes. Favoring the paw for now, but healing.