Lessons from the Book of Cat

Today is cold, wet and dreary, I observe my cats.  They gaze out windows for hours on end. What are they waiting for? Fully present opportunists they clearly communicate their needs with patience and persistence that has no limits.  They spend their day napping, bathing, stretching and occasional sun baths.  Although cautious at first, cats are forever friends and readily express affection with gifts (alive or dead), through conversation and touch.  To err is human, to purr is feline. Robert Byrne,

Who doesn’t smile when a cat purrs? (by the way the frequency of purring helps stimulate bone growth) Cats have a clear sense of personal space and entitlement yet their curiosity and playfulness keeps them forever young. We can all take a leaf from the book of cat. - Remembering to live in the present, to take care of ourselves and to face forward to the future knowing that this too shall pass.  

When I am feeling low all I have to do is watch my cats and my courage returns. Charles Bukowski

Curiosity did not kill the cat

The secret to longevity isn’t the fountain of youth. It’s curiosity.

Anyone who keeps learning stays young.- Henry Ford And the secret to learning is curiosity – a desire to know.

Curiosity may have killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back. – Eugene O’Neill   There is no doubt that the more you learn, the more you want to know.  And You'll never know everything about anything, especially something you love. - Julia Child  So let your curiosity be greater than your fear. Pema Chodon For you will find curiosity leads you down new paths. – Walt Disney To new adventures, new friendships and new memories.

The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realise, the less I know. -  Michel Legrand

Lessons from my cat

There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats.
Albert Schweitzer

Sigmund Freud said Time spent with cats is never wasted.  Garrison Keillor added Cats are intended to teach us that not everything in nature has a function. So what can we learn from cats?

Cats are connoisseurs of comfort. James Herriot.
They are experts at putting themselves first, maintain impeccable hygiene, get plenty of rest, eat sensibly, sleep in the sun and know where to find a warm lap.

Just watching my cats can make me happy. Paula Cole
They possess an innate sense of curiosity, playfulness, problem solving and determination. 

The ideal of calm exists in a sitting cat. Jules Renard
They are fully present in the moment at all times.  

A cat's very nearness is a healing song. -Shannon Hale
Cats have a high degree of empathy, to sit, listen and unconditionally offer their presence. 

To err is human, to purr is feline.― Robert Byrne
Cats are the only animal that purrs. Purring expresses love, affection and happiness and the frequency of purring stimulates bone growth. 

To be honest, the reason I have my cats is to force myself to think about something other than myself.- Marie Helvin
Cats epitomise independence yet live a life of simple values - food, shelter, family and love.

In the middle of a world that has been a bit mad, a cat walks with confidence. Rosanne Amberson.  As do we. This too shall pass. Take these lessons to heart and be well.