6 Life Lessons I Learned From a Cat
Life Lessons
6 Life Lessons this Therapist Learned From a Cat
Cats are unique creatures. They are very independent but that doesn’t keep them from having moments of neediness. Once I had a unique experience with a cat I’d like to share with you. I believe this particular cat made an impulsive decision that impacted my neighborhood for an entire week. Over the course of this experience, I learned many life lessons and hopefully the cat did so as well. Below I have provided a more detailed account of this experience, plus the life lessons I have learned.
My Voice Matters
One summer as I worked in my garden I could hear a soft cry. It sounded like a child. Then the whimper suddenly stopped. As I looked around, I did not see anything. I couldn’t find the direction from which the cry had come. Since the soft whimpers had ceased it came to mind that the caregiver had comforted a child.
The next day was extremely windy and I could hear the soft cries again, this time they sounded more distant as they were drowned by the breeze. However, on this day, my dad came out to help me unpack my car full of gardening supplies. He stated, “Sounds like an animal is hurt. But I don’t know where it is.”
“Yes, yes, I’ve been trying to figure out that familiar sound. It does sound like a hurt animal. You’re right!” I spoke.
Lesson: From this experience, I was encouraged to use my voice. To keep speaking my truth no matter how uncomfortable it is for myself or the people around me. I was also encouraged to keep posting information and encouraging statements on my social media platforms, including this blog, even if no one ever responds, likes, or leaves a comment. My voice will resonate with the right person. It will make a difference in someone’s life.
The right people will take notice.
2. Blending in with surroundings
For about half an hour I searched to find what or who the sound belongs to. I looked around the block, I saw nothing. I then walked toward the corner diner where I believed the cries were originating from. As I began my stroll in that direction, I heard a soft cry to my right. I heard the sound again but saw nothing except this huge oak tree. In this extremely tall tree in my neighbor’s backyard, a lump of dark brown began to move on the branch limb.
There it was…a cat…stuck and whimpering this whole time. I wonder if the cat knew that he blended in with the tree branch so well.
Lesson: The lesson with this? Sometimes we blend in for our safety, other times it doesn’t work so well. Although it may be tough to stand out because uniformity and assimilation are what is expected, there may be times when standing out is necessary to get the support we need.
I am one step away from completing what I am striving for.
3. Just One Step
The next day I went to visit this cat while sitting in the tree, I noticed my neighbor had placed a wooden plank, stretching from the rooftop to the branch. I observed the cat go extremely close to the plank. He was just one paw away. Encouraging the cat I shouted lovingly, “Just take one more step and you’d get there. Come on! You can get down; the way is right next to you.” However, the cat did not move an inch, it did not get onto the plank or even touch the plank.
Lesson: This made me think about my own life. I wonder how many times I gave up on my dreams or goals when I was just steps away. Most recently, there are goals I have been working to achieve and it doesn’t feel as though my goals are coming to fruition…but are they? Observing this cat led me to re-evaluate my own thinking patterns. Recognizing that some of my unhelpful thinking traps need to be reframed. I can use my healthy thinking techniques to remind myself by using the following affirmation:
“I am one step away from completing what I am striving for.”
“I am one step closer to my goal and dreams.”
4. Trust Selectively
All support is not good support
…no one and nothing can remove who I am destined to be or what I am destined to achieve.
5. Hold Steady, Don’t give up
Shortly after, a rainstorm with high winds came through the area. Because my neighborhood has a substantial amount of older, tall trees the wind seemed even more dangerous. I observed the tree limbs and leaves as they shifted in the harsh weather. The bend of the trees could be overheard squeaking and crackling in the storm. This was concerning, over the past year, large branches on our block have been known to fall. One tree limb fell in the center of the street during a mid-sunny day and another tree hit the roof of a house at approximately 2: 00 AM on a still fall night. So, it wasn’t too far off that myself and other residences would often peek out of our windows during the storm to assess our neighbors’ safety.
After the storm ended, I saw the cat still holding onto the thick branch. This observation led me to understand no matter what my struggle is to hold steady and don’t give up.
Lesson: There may be people or unforeseen obstacles working to deter me from my goals and dreams, but no one and nothing can remove who I am destined to be or what I am destined to achieve.
The same goes for you.
6. Nothing is permanent
Temporary or permanent support
Conclusion
Nature can be inspiring in many ways. I was inspired by a cat I observed stuck in a tree. Some of those lessons include the right people will hear me, blending in with my surroundings can be helpful and sometimes not so much. Plus, when it comes to my goals, I need to be selective at who I trust, don’t give up because my next move may just be the final move, hold on to your goals. Lastly, some supports are permanent, while others are temporary. That is perfectly ok and needs to be normalized.
These are only the first 6 life lessons I’ve learned from this experience. After I wrote this article I realized I’ve learned a few more lessons and I wish to share those with you at a later date.
So be sure to subscribe to this blog or join the Quarterly Newsletter so you can be informed when that article drops.
You can learn life lessons in the oddest way. How have you learned life lessons?
Written By: Reynelda Jones, LMSW-C, ADS, CIMHP
CEO and Lead Therapist of A Solution B
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