This is a light-hearted contemplation that takes a serious look at the lessons cats can teach us.
You don't have to be a fan of cats to learn something from this audio,
But it certainly won't hurt.
Cats can teach us many persuasive lessons.
Today I'll be sharing nine of them,
As well as posing some questions and leaving some time for thought.
Let's begin.
Lesson number one.
It's not wrong to rest.
We have the expression catnaps for a reason.
Who among us has not spotted a feline snoozing and wished to switch places?
We need rest.
At this moment right now,
By listening to this audio and slowing life down,
You are resting.
This is a great start.
You do not need to earn rest,
Nor judge yourself for taking a moment to relax.
Everyone has this need,
Even those of us who find stillness difficult.
We smile when we see a cat stretched out in the sun,
And we can smile at ourselves too.
I need rest.
It is not wrong for me to rest.
Lesson number two.
It's okay to leave any situation that makes you uncomfortable,
Even if you liked it 30 seconds ago.
Imagine this scenario.
You're petting Sprinkles the cat.
Sprinkles is purring and pleased.
Then,
Out of seemingly nowhere,
And before you can blink,
Sprinkles has vanished into thin air.
The thoughts left in your head?
Okay,
I guess they were done with our cuddle time.
Good for them.
How often have you stayed in situations that caused you to feel uncomfortable?
Do not blame yourself for this.
As a society,
We regularly train folks to ignore these warning bells and to just be polite.
Learning to assert oneself takes time and practice,
But we can all improve.
The next time a cat runs away from you in what you think is a perfectly lovely moment,
Thank it for reminding you of this.
It is okay for me to leave any situation that makes me uncomfortable,
Even if I liked it 30 seconds ago.
Lesson number three.
It is healthy to enforce your boundaries.
This is connected to the previous point.
Sprinkles is done with petting time,
But Sprinkles can't get away.
What does Sprinkles do?
That's right,
You are likely to get a chomp on the wrist or a claw in your arm.
We all need to enforce boundaries from time to time,
And this is also a difficult task,
But we can do it.
I asked you not to talk about that subject,
And because you are,
I'm going to leave the room.
I told you that I'm not comfortable with hugs,
So stop asking and if you ask again,
I will make a complaint.
In truth,
That's what the cat is saying with its claws,
And if you happen to have any battle scars from a feline friend,
Allow them to be a reminder.
It is healthy to enforce my boundaries.
Lesson number four.
You don't have to like everyone.
Some cats only like a select few humans,
And this is okay.
Others become best friends with anyone they meet,
Or anything in between.
The point is,
Though,
No matter how much someone might try,
You are unlikely to convince a cat to like you if they've decided that they don't.
They will warm up to new people on their own timeline.
You don't have to force yourself to like someone you don't enjoy,
Or become best friends with that person.
We aren't all wired in the same way.
We can show courtesy,
But we don't need to connect with everyone,
And this doesn't make anyone a bad person.
The feeling might be mutual.
You don't have to like everyone.
Lesson number five.
Silliness is a gift.
Cats are known for their hijinks,
And we love them for it.
Chasing around a toy,
Curling up on your computer just when you need it,
Deciding a small cardboard box is now their best friend.
We create whole internet cultures based on the silliness of our friends.
I think we can accept it in ourselves.
Go see that funny movie.
Buy yourself a toy you wanted as a kid,
And wear some mismatched clothes that bring you joy.
You might be surprised by just how much other people love this,
And your inner child will thank you.
Silliness is a gift.
Lesson number six.
Showing affection when you want to is a nice thing.
We wouldn't have already talked about cat cuddles if it wasn't something we all know and love.
We adore a good nose boop,
A chin rub,
A loud purr,
And a warm kitty on our lap.
We can find ways to include safe touch and affection into our lives,
And this doesn't have to look a certain way.
Get a massage,
Get your nails done,
Cuddle with a friend,
Hold the hand of an elderly relative,
Or even take a warm bath.
We are wired for connections.
Showing affection when I want to is a nice thing.
Lesson number seven.
We all have our weaknesses.
Ever seen a cat euphorically rolling around on catnip?
That's me and chocolate.
Okay,
Not so much the rolling part,
But you know what I mean.
We can all learn to accept our weaknesses as a part of who we are.
In time,
We may decide that it's important to avoid those things,
Or we can indulge in them in ways that are okay for us.
But none among us is perfect,
And anyone that tries to present themselves as they are,
Most certainly are not.
It's okay if you aren't flawless.
I have my weaknesses,
Just like everyone else.
Lesson number eight.
It's okay to ask for what you need.
Meow,
Meow,
Meow.
Also known as feed me right now.
Cats don't hesitate to let us know they want something.
We can do the same.
It's okay to have needs,
And it's good to voice them.
We don't give cats everything they want,
And likewise,
Most of us will not have all of our wishes fulfilled.
But it's not wrong to have them.
Learning how to ask takes time.
We can all grow in this area.
It is okay to ask for what I need.
Lesson number nine.
Don't forget to stretch.
A yoga pose is named after cats because they are the masters of a good stretch.
With all that napping,
I'd need some good stretches too.
Yoga doesn't need to be your thing,
But it is a good idea to find ways to listen to your body and give it what it needs.
This might be yoga,
But it could also be going for a swim,
A walk,
A meditation,
Eating a great bowl of soup,
Or wrapping yourself up in the perfect blanket.
These are ways you can learn to listen to yourself.
I won't forget to stretch,
Whatever that means for me.
And that,
My friends,
Is nine lessons from cats.
What other lessons can you think of that perhaps I missed?
Please feel free to share those in the comments.
We'll now take a little bit of time to enjoy the sound of the cat purring as we think over the things we've talked about,
Or if you just feel like relaxing to that sound.
We'll know that we're done when we hear the sound of the cat meowing again.
Thank you so much for listening.
So,
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