To be honest, I never really wanted a dog. Somehow, Matisse, just sort of landed in my life.
As the story goes, she was abandoned on the side of the road and survived on her own for a few days. I like to say she grew up in the streets.
She’s a good dog, but dogs are a lot of work. At least for someone who isn’t used to having one. It’s getting easier, though.
When I’m present, she teaches me a lot, especially how to be satisfied with the simple things in life. Like stopping and smelling the roses, coffee, or in her case . . . anything!
Mattie’s lived with me most of her life, and I think she likes it, but sometimes it’s hard to tell. It doesn’t seem like she’s truly happy unless she’s moving around. I know the feeling.
Lately I’ve made a commitment to take her on longer walks and it seems like good karma. We’ve ventured off the trails into the deep woods, even started hanging out along the hidden creeks.
It sounds cliche’ but she is truly in touch with nature. Every scent, sound, or movement takes her breath away.
She’s insanely curious and goes absolutely bat-shit whenever she meets . . . anyone!
Keith Urban might as well be Keith Fleck from down the block. Jack Freedmore is just as big a deal as Jack White. And Sparky might as well be Old Yeller.
It just doesn’t matter. She loves everyone and gives them all a chance.
Every morning after a perfect downward-dog, she tears into the backyard to chase squirrels. She’ll run up and down the fence for an hour, barking at the top of her lungs. I keep expecting her to give up, but she never does.
If I decide to take her for a run, she’ll immediately forget the squirrels and move to the pavement. If I jog, she models my speed. If I go faster, she hits another gear. Fast, slow, walk, run. It doesn’t matter, she’s ready to go. She loves to move and always with perfectly relaxed form.
I think running tense is the biggest mistake we can make. The body should flow and we should allow it to so without resistance.
She goes balls-out when awake, but doesn’t hesitate to get her rest. They say dogs take on characteristics of their owner, and I have no reason to doubt them.
Recovery is probably the last thing on the mind of endurance athletes, yet it is the most important to remember. When we’re worn down, no amount of sprints or light jogging or hill repeats rebuild our body.
She eats, sleeps, greets, flows and lives with passion. Oh, and, unlike me, never turns down an invitation to ride.
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