Question Of The Day, Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Mamanyt1953 · Mar 19, 2019

This is not at all the question I had been considering for this thread today, but...it's the one I want the answer to!

We learn life's lessons from so many sources...What Lesson have you learned from your cat(s), past or current?

The wonderful cats I have shared almost my entire life with (in 66 years, I don't think more than two of them were cat-free) have taught me so many things. But the one thing that I have learned from cats above all others is to be totally present in the moment. And that lesson is so important to me that I wrote a poem about it almost 20 years ago, that is as true now as it was then.

Zentime

I learned to live in Zentime
From my Gramma and my cat
and no matter what I'm doing
I'm exactly where I'm at.

Yesterdays don't bother me
No time to weep or moan,
I can't change those yesterdays
It's only "now" I own.

And yes, I'll make some plans today
To lunch next week with you
But I won't live within those plans
Until their time is due.

But now, oh now, yes, NOW is mine
The source of my serenity...
No matter when I die, I've lived
With serial infinity.

So I live my life in Zentime
I'm exactly where I'm at
And I thank the Goddess daily
For my Gramma and my cat.

DreamerRose · Mar 19, 2019

That's beautiful,

Mamanyt1953 !

I've learned to love unconditionally again after many disappointments.

Mamanyt1953 · Mar 19, 2019

Thank you so much. Yes, that is the lesson that would come right after the zen time lesson. To paraphrase Kalhil Gibran, our hearts can only hold as much joy as sorrow has carved room for.

Mia6 · Mar 20, 2019

I don't think I've learned any life lessons but I've learned that cats are amazing and give so much love. I'd rather be around cats than some people.

mightyboosh · Mar 20, 2019

Mamanyt1953 said:
our hearts can only hold as much joy as sorrow has carved room for.

I love poetic sayings like that.

Oliver has taught me that I can love a cat to a worrying degree ie. I really really dread anything happening to him. I've always loved all my cats hugely but he's taken it to the next level.

NY cat man · Mar 20, 2019

I think that, primarily, I have learned the true meaning of patience. If a cat chooses to do something, it is done on its own terms and timing, not ours.

marmoset · Mar 20, 2019

I have learned how to not show my stress or anxiety and how to slow my heart rate and respiration so I can feel calm. I work mostly with ferals or scared cats and it's because I picked up on how they appear calm unless they want someone to know they are not

. If I'm calm dealing with the spastic bitey, scratching ones over time they realize I'm not getting worked up over them and am non threatening so they come around in time.

I've also learned that it's possible to love any cat and possible too that you might be accepted by them in return, even if the cat in question was one that acted like it wanted to kill you months before.

Outside of working with cats- that inner calm trick works with people and stressful situations very well.

maggiedemi · Mar 20, 2019

Unconditional love. My cats have taught me to love something more than myself. Now everything is about them and making sure they are happy and safe. I don't have time to worry about my own problems as much. I have to get up early every morning to take care of them. I have to always be okay for them.

Furballsmom · Mar 20, 2019

to be in The Now, in The Moment.

aliceneko · Mar 20, 2019

Such a lovely poem!
Toffee and Fudge have taught me not to care about anything and to appreciate each little thing.

neely · Mar 20, 2019

I've learned how to appreciate the simpler things in life, e.g. the soothing sound of a cat purring, the comfort of a cat sleeping beside me, and listening to the sounds of nature.

muffy · Mar 20, 2019

maggiedemi said:
Unconditional love. My cats have taught me to love something more than myself. Now everything is about them and making sure they are happy and safe. I don't have time to worry about my own problems as much. I have to get up early every morning to take care of them. I have to always be okay for them.

Very well said. I felt the same way about the 8 cats that I had a few years ago. I would have been lost all of those years with out them.

Unconditional love is what cats are all about.

1 bruce 1 · Mar 20, 2019

Mamanyt1953 said:
This is not at all the question I had been considering for this thread today, but...it's the one I want the answer to!

We learn life's lessons from so many sources...What Lesson have you learned from your cat(s), past or current?

The wonderful cats I have shared almost my entire life with (in 66 years, I don't think more than two of them were cat-free) have taught me so many things. But the one thing that I have learned from cats above all others is to be totally present in the moment. And that lesson is so important to me that I wrote a poem about it almost 20 years ago, that is as true now as it was then.

Zentime

I learned to live in Zentime
From my Gramma and my cat
and no matter what I'm doing
I'm exactly where I'm at.

Yesterdays don't bother me
No time to weep or moan,
I can't change those yesterdays
It's only "now" I own.

And yes, I'll make some plans today
To lunch next week with you
But I won't live within those plans
Until their time is due.

But now, oh now, yes, NOW is mine
The source of my serenity...
No matter when I die, I've lived
With serial infinity.

So I live my life in Zentime
I'm exactly where I'm at
And I thank the Goddess daily
For my Gramma and my cat.

That's a very good answer to your own question my friend.
The day Queen Bee went from a stand-offish butt that no one really liked to driving me nuts with affection is the day I started sitting with her, first a few feet away, then closer, then eventually pulling her into my lap and just sitting there. She got all tensed up. She wanted to bolt (I didn't prevent it) but eventually she started purring, those little paws kneaded, she blinked, and she was happy.
Since then, I've stepped on her foot, sat on her tail, and if I say I'm sorry and mean it she blinks, flops, all is forgiven.
The lesson to me was be cautious of the unknown, go slow. If things get heavy, back off. If things go OK, proceed. If things are bad, bail out, if things are good, enjoy it.
Baby Girl wasn't a kitten I expected to live. She not only lived but she took over the house. Lesson there, don't back down, spit in Death's face, go on with it, and if you want something, take it and ask questions later :crackup:

That's 2 out of 9.

MonaLyssa33 · Mar 20, 2019

From Willie (my soulmate cat who died in 2017), I learned unconditional love and devotion. From Maisie, I learned patience since it took me at least 8 months for her to let me touch her. From Remy, I learned that some black cats actually photograph really well.

Furballsmom · Mar 20, 2019

MonaLyssa33 said:
From Remy, I learned that some black cats actually photograph really well.

LOL

Question Of The Day, Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw

Thread starter

DreamerRose

TCS Member

Mamanyt1953

Rules my home with an iron paw

Thread starter

Mia6

Mother of one and numerous ferals

mightyboosh

TCS Member

NY cat man

TCS Member

marmoset

TCS Member

maggiedemi

TCS Member

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee

aliceneko

TCS Member

neely

May the purr be with you

muffy

TCS Member

1 bruce 1

TCS Member

MonaLyssa33

TCS Member

Furballsmom

Cat Devotee

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