Debbie Does Push-Ups! Day 5

87 Push-Ups, Pets, and Triceps on Fire!

Dear Diary,

Today’s push-up target is 87, representing the 87% of pet owners who report improved mental health thanks to their pets.  I guess the other 13% don’t realize that pets are not just pets.  They’re roommates. Routine keepers. Emotional support. Furry friends. Family.

I don’t currently have a pet, but back in my single days I had a cat named Buddy, a tabby with big energy. Buddy only lived 6.5 years, but in that short time he gave me comfort, laughs, companionship and that quiet, steady love that animals seem to offer so effortlessly.  He was a rescue.  My cousin found him at the end of her driveway and took him in.  When I went over to visit, this unnamed cat snuggled his little head into my leg and I thought, “Awww ... this cat is so cute and I don’t even like cats, what’s happening? Is this that love at first sight thing?”  Before that moment, I thought cats were creepy.  We never had pets growing up.  Wait, we did have a cat but not for very long because apparently my brother (who was 5 years old at the time) was throwing this cat around like a toy. I have a vague memory of this cat, but don't really remember much since I was 3 at the time. Then years later my mom told us that she put the cat on someone’s door step with a note to "please take care of this cat, otherwise her 5 year old son is going to kill him."  WHAT?! We had no idea that happened until. Ummm. Last year maybe?! After that incident, pets were just not a thing in the Cabral household. Now I know why. 

Back to the unnamed cat.  After a few weeks, my uncle called me and said, “Hey Deb, you know that cat you saw the other day here?  Do you want him?  Our dog is gonna eat this thing if we don’t get rid of him.  He has his shots, he’s good to go.”  I said “yeah, I’ll come pick him up tomorrow!”  And so the unnamed cat became my little Buddy.  During those years, I also did a lot of traveling.  Australia, New Zealand, Scotland (where I lived and taught in yoga studios … super cool). When I went away, Buddy stayed with my parents. And when I came home, they were happy to see me but they were also clearly devastated that Buddy was leaving.  I remember one moment like it was yesterday. I was packing Buddy into the car and my dad walked us out saying,  “Okay bye-bye Badi… bye-bye…” LOL. Yeah, nice to see me too.  But that’s when it hit me.  Buddy wasn’t just supporting me. He was quietly boosting my dad’s mental health too. Proof that animals uplift spirits in ways we don’t always notice (until we do.)

Lately, I’ve been thinking about getting a pet again.  Even a fish.  Just watching something swim calmly in a tank feels therapeutic.  We shall see.  My husband likes dogs, but doesn't want to make that big commitment.  Me neither. We just got married a few months ago. One commitment at a time. Maybe we’ll start with a cat.  Much smaller commitment. We see cats in our area all the time and  this morning, funnily enough, we saw this tabby outside our front window that’s always around (and of course I call  him Buddy.)  I smile every time I see him. Look at that. Mental health boosted.  Stat is accurate!

Ok, back to push-ups.

Today I don’t feel great. Slight headache. Scratchy throat. Stomach weird.  Diarrhea. Sorry. TMI. Just sayin'. Low-ish energy. I worked from home this morning (one of the perks of doing admin / coordination / instructor team-lead life when I’m not teaching yoga and/or Pilates). I decided to actually take the afternoon off for self-care (and writing my blog, which to me is self-care.)

I went to my mom’s house for a bath because (fun fact) I currently do not have a bathtub. Baths are now such a luxury that I enjoy them so much more when I get the chance. One day soon we’ll install one when the timing is financially right.  Hear me universe?  And when the timing is even “righter” … a hot tub on the back deck. Absolute mental health care.

Now. The push-ups.

I did all 87 in one go because I had the very clear thought during:“I do not want to do this again later. Let's just get this over with.”  So I did.  Definitely not the best form or effort. Knees down. A few roll-ups mixed in. Breaks as needed. Shirt completely drenched. Sweaty Debbie has entered the building.  Shirt changed. Push-ups done. Triceps on fire.  Tomorrow should be interesting. 

Here's the thought that keeps tapping me on the shoulder: things don’t have to be perfect to matter. Progress will always beat perfection. Every time. Doing something; even messy, modified, low-energy something feels way better than doing nothing and feeling guilty afterwards. I'm very guilty of piling on the guilt. I know that about myself and it's something I'm working on. Today wasn’t impressive. It wasn’t pretty. But I did the thing. And that creates pride, even on low days. Especially on low days. Showing up imperfectly builds trust with yourself.  A lesson I’m learning (and a quote I once read) is something along the lines of “we’re allowed to be a masterpiece and be a work in progress at the same time."  And that’s where real confidence comes from.  Not an easy overnight lesson to learn.  Slowly but surely.   

Tonight = full rest mode.

Self-care.

Hydration.

And daydreaming about future pets and hot tubs.

What I’m learning

Connection matters.  Whether it’s with people, animals or yourself. Pets ground us. Routines regulate us. And sometimes getting the thing done (even imperfectly) is the kindest thing you can do for your nervous system.

Push-ups.  Check.

Bath.  Check.

Triceps 🔥

Mental health supported.  Check. 

— Yoga Debb

Building strength, mindset, and real-life consistency — one breath at a time