Sometimes you don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone

When I was suffering from depression, I couldn’t do my housework the way that I wanted. Now that I’m better, I’m enjoying doing things like pulling weeds and other chores. These activities are also a good way to remain active with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

I didn’t appreciate my ability to walk a mile, run 1,000 yards, or climb straight up a rock face until I needed to sit down in the middle of cleaning my kitchen because my hips hurt. Though I will probably never run 1,000 yards or climb a rock face again, I can clean my kitchen without my hips hurting by doing the proper stretching and strength training.

As soon as the rainy weather is over, I look forward to going back to the park and walking. Though I’ve been riding my stationary bike, I know that I’ll need to start out slowly with the walking and build up to being able to complete the Little Beaver Lake Front Loop here in West Virginia, which is a little over 1 mile. For me, walking on a trail is much more difficult than riding my bike for 30 minutes.

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I wasn’t particularly fond of my old smart TV, which I watched while riding my stationary bike until it died. However, now I can’t wait for the new one to arrive, as I cannot endure the boredom of riding the bike without having something to watch. That doesn’t mean I’ve quit exercising, though; I’m still intrigued by kettlebells.

The most important thing that I miss is not a thing at all, but an animal. I had to say goodbye to my constant companion and very best friend, my cat Snowball. I appreciated her while she was here, but I didn’t realize how much of a constant she was in my life. I find myself looking for her in the morning because she was always either on my bed with me, trying to get me awake, or lying on the stool in my dressing room.

I look out into the hallway when I go to the bathroom, because I couldn’t go to the bathroom by myself. I never completely shut the door because Snowball would scratch on the door until I let her in. She could push it open if I helped.

I look for her as I take off my clothes and get ready for my bath because she always wanted my night clothes on the bathroom floor so that she could knead them as I took my bath. That was one of our daily rituals that I miss so much.

If you have pets, you know that they are so much more than just animals. They are companions, confidants, play buddies, and comforters. I’m not sure if I’ll get another cat, but I’ll keep an open mind. I have told the animal shelter that I’m willing to foster an adult cat.

I’ve lost some things forever, and others I can regain with effort. What (or whom) do you miss? I invite you to share in the comments below.

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.