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 FITNESS FITNESS 

& & 

HEALTHY LIVINGHEALTHY LIVING

Mountain View News Saturday, July 5, 2025

Lori A. Harris

MY DOG AND I:

RECOVERY BUDDIES


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

CONNECTING THE DOTS OF 
GRATITUDE

It seems like injuries are becoming a regular part of life 
at my house. First it was me—hip replacement, then 
shoulder surgery. And now, just when I thought I was done 
with crutches and ice packs, my dog Poppy has joined the 
“injured and recovering” club. At just three years old, Poppy 
is facing a major surgery on her hind leg called TPLO, 
short for tibial-plateau-leveling osteotomy. It’s basically the 
dog version of an ACL repair.

Poppy is a young, active black lab who lives for daily walks 
and roughhousing with her best dog friend. She’s one of 
those dogs that’s always moving. A ball of energy, curiosity, 
and wagging joy. So when she suddenly started limping, I 
figured she just twisted something during play. But within 
a few days, she couldn’t put her leg down at all.

I tried the usual things like rest, shorter walks and anti-
inflammatory meds. Nothing worked. Her vet confirmed 
what I was starting to suspect: a torn ligament in her knee, and surgery was the only option. 
That’s when it hit me, my healthy, strong, constantly moving dog was now facing the same 
kind of setback I’ve been dealing with.

The timing is a little eerie. I’ve spent the last year recovering from two surgeries. I’ve talked 
openly about my frustration, the pain that sometimes doesn’t respond to medication, and the 
slow, boring days of rest when you feel like you’re losing all the progress you made. Now I’m 
wondering how much of that my dog is about to experience too.

It’s easy to forget that dogs feel pain, too. They don’t always show it the way we do. Poppy still 
wags her tail. She still acts like she wants to run and play, even though her leg says otherwise. 
That resilience is inspiring but also scary. Because unlike us, dogs don’t know how to be 
careful. They don’t understand why they have to stay still or walk slowly. And that’s going to 
be one of the biggest challenges of her recovery.

After TPLO surgery, dogs have to stay very inactive for the first couple of weeks. No running, 
jumping, or playing. That’s hard for any dog, but especially one who’s used to moving nonstop. 
It reminds me of the days after my hip surgery when taking a few steps felt like climbing a 
mountain. You’re not only hurting but you’re also bored, frustrated, and desperate to move 
again.

I know what it’s like when pain medication doesn’t seem to touch the discomfort. I know the 
mental game of recovery. Specifically the doubts, the fear that something’s wrong, and the 
endless waiting for progress. And even though Poppy can’t tell me how she’s feeling, I know 
she’ll go through her own version of that.

The good news is dogs tend to heal faster than humans. And Poppy is strong. She’s also lucky. 
She’ll have someone by her side who knows exactly what she’s going through. Someone who 
can relate to the little setbacks, the restlessness, and the deep need to move again.

This experience also reminds me how easy it is to take movement for granted. Until it’s gone. 
Whether you’re two-legged or four, younger or older, regular activity is a gift. Walking without 
pain. Jumping for joy. Even climbing stairs. It’s not until those things are taken away that we 
realize how much they mean.

Poppy’s surgery is just two days away, and I’ll admit, I’m nervous. I don’t know exactly what to 
expect, but I do know this: healing takes time, and it’s not always smooth. I’ll be here to help 
her through it. We’ll both be doing some quiet bonding while she rests, maybe more than 
either of us would like. But we’ll get through it. Together.

So, if you’re out there recovering from your own injury, or helping someone else through 
theirs, remember movement is something we all crave, and healing is something we all 
deserve. Whether it’s a person, a dog, or anyone else who depends on a healthy body to enjoy 
life. Injuries remind us just how connected fitness and freedom really are.

We’ll see how Poppy’s recovery goes. In the meantime, I’ll be lifting her in and out of the car, 
trying to stop her from jumping off my bed, and preparing for a few weeks of carefully managed 
boredom. All with my non-surgical arm. I’m still not supposed to move my recovering arm 
overhead, out in front or lift anything heavier than a coffee mug. Wish us luck. We’ll need 
it. Thankfully, pet insurance (Embrace) is covering most of her $5,500 bill—something I’m 
incredibly grateful for.

Steve Jobs once said, "You can't connect the dots looking forward; 
you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to 
trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future." His 
words remind me that life's most meaningful moments often begin 
with the smallest questions.

In 2017, my sister asked me a simple question: "What was our 
great-grandmother's name?" That single question sent me tumbling down an ancestry 
rabbit hole that would change my life in ways I never imagined.

Finding the answer led me to discover GirlTrek, a remarkable organization that celebrates 
the power of Black women through walking and wellness. Through them, I learned about 
the #DaughtersOf campaign, a beautiful tradition that encourages women to connect with 
their matrilineal lineage by speaking the names of the women who came before them.

Standing in that truth, I can say: I am Lori Ann, daughter of Bettie Jean, daughter of Charity, 
daughter of Henrietta, daughter of Margarite, born in 1840. Speaking their names fills 
me with profound love and gratitude for the women whose strength flows through my 
veins.

That one question about my great-grandmother's name opened doors I didn't even know 
existed. I joined GirlTrek, forged adventures and friendships across the nation, expanded 
my business, and increased my revenue. Each connection traces back to that moment of 
curiosity about our family's story.

This is what I call connecting the dots of gratitude, looking backward to see how seemingly 
small moments created the path to where we stand today. Every breakthrough, every 
blessing, every beautiful turn in our journey has roots in something that came before.

I challenge you to try this practice: Think of one thing in your life that fills you with gratitude. 
Then reverse-engineer your own dots. What question was asked? What conversation 
happened? What small step was taken that eventually led to that blessing?

You might be surprised at how one simple question, one moment of curiosity, or one act 
of courage created a chain reaction of abundance in your life. Trust that the dots will connect, 
and when they do, let gratitude be your guide.

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