You can learn a lot from my cat Zoey. She refuses to allow anyone to take away her happiness!
Yes, she is a cat, but a determined one. In this photo you can see her determination. She loves to steal my meditation spot as soon as I leave. She walks over and sits upright in it like a person. If I decide I want it back, she gives me a look that I know means: “No way am I moving. This is my happy spot.”
It got me thinking of times when I have given up my happy spot for someone else because I felt like I should. Or times I gave it up because I felt they deserved it more than I did. Zoey never goes to that small place. She knows she deserves the happy spot when it is open. She does the same for the spots of sun on the floor and the comfy chair in the living room. She makes no excuses for herself.
Since she is a cat, she offers up affection when she is feeling it, not when it is demanded from her. When she is feeling it, she is full of love and it is real. Such a good lesson for the rest of us. When we are feeling love or affection for someone, to let them know in that moment when it is real and true. Much better than going through the motions because we feel we should.
Zoey knows when it is her time to eat. She finds me, leads me to the kitchen and sits in front of the fridge. If I ignore her, she lays by my feet so I trip over her. She knows what is best for her and lets the rest of the household know. She does not turn to tuna because she gave up her happy spot or played small.
She is just true to her nature. I know what to expect.If we were really to stay true to our nature, our purpose and be in alignment with who we really are, we would not give up our happy spot unless we really wanted to. We would love freely and openly when inspired to. We would not play small. Doesn't that sound better and more fully expressed? Sometimes we can learn a lot from a determined cat like Zoey!