Keep Moving

by Michele Boy | August 24, 2023

A former owner and editor of the newspaper dropped by my office the other day. She is beautiful, smart, fun, and so vibrant. 
We talked about her life. She is busy. She is active. She is involved in her church, in her community, in having fun, and keeping active.
 It was a refreshing joy to visit with her. 
Right now my life is sheep and the newspaper. And sheep. Did I mention sheep? Lol. 
We have two weeks until the state fair. One of our lambs got injured and most of the weekend was caring for her. 
 All my dreams and ideas of nature and the animal kingdom goes out the window with reality. 
 Instead of the other lambs protecting the injured lamb, they started to butt heads with her and essentially kick her when she was down. 
So we made a makeshift shelter to protect her while she was hopefully healing. 
It took a couple of days but finally one of the wethers decided to start protecting her. We let the healing lamb back into the pen with the others and observed. 
She started walking and on Wednesday morning was able to walk a quarter mile. 
We essentially have two weeks to get ready. Injuries, high heat, getting into a school routine, all of these things make caring for livestock and going to big shows harder. 
Between work, school, and livestock there isn’t much time for sitting around.  
So why do we do it?
  I have to say I love being out at the barn with our daughter. I love that she cares for her sheep so much. 
And I enjoy the lessons she learns.
 As for me, it keeps me in fresh air, sunshine, and active. Plus we are always learning and making family memories.
 When my body is achy, the sheep still need fed. When muscles are sore, the sheep still need walked and worked. We press on. 
 From the people I survey who are older than me, staying active seems to be the key. 
Keep moving. Even when it hurts. Keep going. Keep getting sunshine and laughter, keep helping, keep visiting with people. And keep moving. 
Especially when it hurts!
I admit I feel better when I move. I feel better with the sun on my face. And I feel better when I help others.
 Would laying around for a weekend feel good? Absolutely. 
 One day I will have that weekend and it will be free and I will miss this. 
  Time changes things. Next year when my daughter enters junior high, we will have new goals, new pursuits, new dreams. 
For now we go on. And even though I wake up tired and sore, I am smiling. A special shout out to coffee and ibuprofen. LOL!
Don’t leave home without them!