Even if you are not a cat person, bear with me, this story goes
far beyond cat mania. Our little tabby cat was frightened and
highly-sensitive from the day we rescued her from the SPCA, two
and a half years ago. No doubt being jailed there for four
months messed her mind. As we came to learn ?Shylo?s? nature we
renamed her ?Shybaby.?
Practice Patience, Breathing and Being
Extreme patience was the first virtue Shybaby taught us. We
would have to be still, with arm out stretched, finger pointing
toward her, and wait for her to rub by our finger numerous times
before she would deem to move in closer. Closer contact would
have to be her move, not ours. If we rushed this timely greeting
she fled. (Often this time consuming ritual was far too much for
our teenage boy!)
Yet, if we, and particularly myself (as I must admit that little
cat really came to dote on me) were too impatient or too busy to
spend time with her, Shybaby became even more skiddish and
frightened. Intuitively she knew when I was lost in my hyper,
anxious ?I have so much to do and so little time? state, as
then, Shybaby fled from my energy. Seeing this I would stop, sit
down, and practice breathing and being - my ?kitty meditation.?
As I calmed down, kitty calmed down.
Couldn?t we all benefit from a little more ?kitty meditation? in
life? Firstly, noticing when we are anxiously driving ourselves
and then, practicing patience with ourselves, and breathing and
being?
Precious Present Moment
This sweet little soul also taught me the preciousness of each
moment. As usual, she leaped upon my bed this morning - with her
uncanny knowing the moment I had opened my eyes - to give me her
love greetings. I relish her affection even more so today and
with a heavy heart knowing she is to die tomorrow. My little
girl cat is in the advanced stages of liver cancer, no longer
eating, and there is naught else we can do other than love her.
So, this moment with her is so very special because I know it
will never be repeated. Soon she will be gone forever from our
lives. With bitter-sweet revelation I understand this to be the
truth of each single, present moment. We only have each moment
now, this once, to fully experience and enjoy it, and then it is
gone forever. I am chilled by how carelessly we forget this -
rushing onto the next thing, consumed with past and future
thoughts ? missing the only moment we have!
Keep Things in Perspective
Also, I have my cat to thank for helping me keep things in
perspective. Yes, there is a deep hurt in my heart knowing
cancer rages in her body and soon she will be gone yet, I am
deeply grateful it is not one of us. Our lives have already been
scarred by painful losses caused by cancer.
Yet, we are now deeply grateful as my father-in-law seems to
have won his recent round with cancer. With much relief, we are
no longer visiting him in the cancer ward. I am losing my sweet,
little cat but my loved ones are here.
Do Your Best to Keep Loving, No Matter
What
Little Shybaby has barely eaten in over two weeks. Although a
small cat, she used to have a roundness about her that is
lacking now. Although we know we can no longer selfishly delay
her death - wanting one more day of her sweetness - it is so
hard to let her go. I am amazed at how this little animal ?
despite illness and lack of nourishment ? seeks to be near me
and to heal me with her loving purr even now. This too is
Shybaby?s legacy on leading a happy life: Do your best to keep
loving, no matter what.
So let us all remember the teachings of the wise little Zen
master, Shybaby:
1. Practice Patience in All Things
2. Practice Breathing and
Being
3. Live in the Precious Present Moment
4. Keep
Things in Perspective
5. Do Your Best to Keep Loving, No
Matter What
About the author:
Teresa Proudlove is the publisher/editor of www.yourlifework.com:
support and inspiration for your work and life. Teresa has been
inspiring, supporting, and mentoring over 3000 people upon their
lifework path for fourteen years, leading workshops and
authoring many internationally published articles.
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