If you’ve been following the bouncing Llama (me), you’ll recall I started physical therapy to gain strength after living with Long Covid for a few years. I’m not quite bouncing yet, but…
Yesterday, I took my grandson to a corn maze and only had to stop once or twice. Now, mind you, this corn maze is one of many on a huge farm. So, just getting to the maze and walking on uneven ground was a feat. A feet feat! (Also, a back feat, a hip feat, and a dash of patience feat.)
I hit my step goal (3900) by mid-afternoon and didn’t wipe out until way after 5000!
I’ve hit 5k steps on and off over the past few years. Life, as life is wont to do, gave me a few steps backward, and I’ve bounced back every time—sometimes longer than others, but I’ve come back to this spot a good handful of times.
This gives me hope.
Again, I am not actually bouncing.
Yet.
This brings me to today. I had my outtake appointment with my latest physical therapist. This one was two months long, and it was at a gym through a local hospital.
Disclaimer: I only went to the gym for my intake, update, and outtake visits.
Yes, I have excuses.
No, I’m not sharing them. Except for how far away the gym is and not trusting my brain fog for long or complicated drives. I’m happy to share that excuse.
If there was a graduation from this program, this was it. I’ve improved on every level I intended and walked out of there feeling just a tad taller than my five-foot-one-inch height. I was a very proud Llama.
Why so proud, you ask? (or even if you didn’t)
Halfway through this program, I was sure I’d made a mistake. I was exhausted at my update appointment. I felt defeated. Who was I to think I could beat this when fatigue and brain fog kept dropping in unannounced? Luckily, my trainer was a gem. She listened, pointed out what I had already accomplished, and turned my whole mood around.
My confidence returned. My exercises were still going as strong as I could, and soon, I stepped out of my comfort zone and signed up for Waltz lessons.
No, those lessons weren’t perfect, and yes, my body protested. But I didn’t give up.
One more time for those in the back:
I did not give up.
And today, I joined a gym.
Now, this is not like joining a gym in your 20s, 30s, or even 40s. These are my 60s, and I never expected to want to do this, but it feels right. Mind you, it is the same gym I joined in my 30s, but with a different perspective. A better perspective.
So, wish me luck, and I’ll check back if a new phase appears after this.
Llivin’ La Vida Llama!
PS. The photo is not me. I am an actual human, and that was AI-generated.
One Crafty Llama 
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