Wow, this year has been flying by. One minute I was celebrating Christmas, the next minute it was Easter, and now, Summer Break is not far on my horizon. The next couple of months are going to be full of a lot of “end of the school year” activities. All of these activities will cause some slight disruptions in my clowder’s schedules, and we all know how cats feel about their schedules. Just thinking about how full my plate is going to be causes me to start to stress and we all know how our stress affects our cats. So, I have been making sure that when I start to feel overwhelmed to take a moment and breathe.
Attitude of Gratitude
Another way that I have learned to help when I start to feel overwhelmed is to practice an attitude of gratitude. I take a moment to sit with my cats and think about all these reasons that I am grateful for them being in my life. This simple act has multiple benefits. It allows me to take a moment and breathe. Taking this moment allows me to connect and bond with my cats. By focusing on the present, the stress of the things that haven’t happened yet fade away.
So much to be grateful for.
Emmet has been doing amazingly well. He still has monthly vet appointments to ensure that we don’t notice any negative changes in his heart murmur or that we feel his GI mass return. Zazzles is back to his normal self after having dental surgery a couple of weeks ago. Poor guy had to have 7 teeth pulled and struggled for a few days with his pain medication. He did not like the way it made him feel at all. Lily and Cactus have a birthday coming up next week. I truly can’t believe that it has been 2 years! Sloopy is still in his “Grumpy Old Man” Era. Tensions between Zazzles, Bodie, and Hemingway are almost nonexistent. All that I am very grateful for.
Allowing My Cats to Serve Their Purpose
By far, the best way for me to take a moment and breathe is by allowing my cats to serve their purpose. Remembering that each of my cats have a job and purpose in my life to help me along when times get tough and stressful has helped tremendously. I am truly lucky to have so many helpers in my life. From Joybringers to Healers and Energy Workers to Lovers and Supporters. No matter what assistance I need, I have a cat ready to help me.
All of my cats have a purpose in my life.
Lily, my Joybringer, is always ready to put a smile on my face and joy in my heart. Sometimes, when I am hustling around, she will just appear in my path, looking up at me with her bright copper eyes. It literally stops me in my tracks, and I have to take a moment to appreciate her presence in my life. Sloopy, Bodie, and Hemingway, my Energy Workers and Healers, are always ready to step in when I need to shift my own energy or remove any energies that I have picked up at school. Cactus, my Muse, reminds me to enjoy life and who I am becoming. Emmet, my Teacher, is a daily reminder that everything happens for a reason. Finally, Zazzles, my Lover and Soul Cat, helps me to release all stress with his unconditional love, purrs, and snuggles.
No Time For Stress
With all of the love and support that I receive from my cats daily, stress doesn’t stand a chance. Not to say that it doesn’t try to show up and take hold. However, I have finally learned that stressing doesn’t help anything. Especially stressing about future events. Taking moments to breathe when I am feeling overwhelmed, remaining grateful for every moment that I get to spend time with my cats and allowing them to serve their purpose are going to help me navigate the next couple of months.
Let Lily send you some Joy!
“I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior.” – Hippolyte Taine
Lora Lee 
