Kirk Williams has always lived an active lifestyle. So when he fractured his spinal cord in a mountain bike crash, it wasn鈥檛 about if he鈥檇 return to a life of outdoor adventures but how to do it. As a quadriplegic, Kirk has relearned how to live an active life, which has involved learning to be patient with himself and his progress. Kirk鈥檚 dog Maddox has been by his side every step of the way鈥攂oth as a loyal companion for life on the road and as a teacher who reminds Kirk to slow down, be patient, and appreciate every moment. Watch the video and keep reading to see how Maddox and Kirk support each other through life and the lessons Maddox has taught Kirk along the way.
Lesson #1: Love Where You Are
Most dogs love being where their humans are. That鈥檚 definitely the case for Maddox. He鈥檚 happiest with Kirk, which means that everywhere Kirk goes, Maddox goes too. In the mornings the pair will head out for a bike ride on the dirt roads near their house and then come back home for breakfast before figuring out what the rest of the day will look like. Maddox loves running errands, like going to the hardware store, and never passes up a chance to swim in the neighborhood pond, go camping, or hang out at breweries. Since he goes everywhere with Kirk, and he loves being with Kirk, he also loves all the places they go鈥攚hether they鈥檙e doing chores or playing outside. That鈥檚 a great lesson because we can鈥檛 always control our surroundings, but we can always control how we feel about them. 鈥淚 love that he鈥檚 always happy to see me. I even love that there鈥檚 hair everywhere. I just love everything about having a dog.鈥 To fuel all of their daily adventures, Kirk has fed Maddox for many years.
Lesson #2: Be Patient With Yourself and Others
Maddox used to bark at every dog he saw. He didn鈥檛 like dogs crossing in front of him on the bike path and he was wary of strangers. Kirk found that the best way through these situations was to stop and reassure Maddox. Over time, Kirk learned Maddox鈥檚 triggers, and Maddox learned to trust Kirk and let his guard down. 鈥淗e鈥檚 taught me a lot about just slowing down and not pushing too far beyond our comfort zone,鈥 says Kirk. 鈥淵ou still want to grow as a human and a dog, but not if it鈥檚 so severely uncomfortable that it ends up being counterproductive.鈥
Lesson #3: Slow Down
Through his injury, and his relationship with Maddox, Kirk has learned to move at his own pace and be okay with slowing things down. Kirk can鈥檛 grab a cup of coffee to go and use his wheelchair at the same time, which means he sits at the coffee shop until he finishes his cup. 鈥淭hat used to irk me,鈥 he says. But while sitting there sipping his coffee, he often sees people rushing in and out while doing multiple things at once. 鈥淚鈥檓 actually kind of the lucky one that just gets to sit and take it all in and relax. It鈥檚 okay to slow down on the trail, or in life, and just enjoy the moment as opposed to always being like, 鈥榃hat鈥檚 next?’鈥
Lesson #4: Life Is Better When Shared
Dogs have the power to make everything just a little bit better. Having a constant loving, happy, and adoring presence makes Kirk鈥檚 solo road trips feel far from lonely. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 imagine life without him,鈥 he says. 鈥淭hrough raising him as a puppy, and through the challenges, we鈥檝e grown incredibly close. I feel like we both understand and know each other inside and out.鈥
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