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Life Lessons I Learned from My Cat
Even if you are not a cat person, bear with me, as 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 with her - 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 Teresa Proudlove has been inspiring, supporting, and guiding over 3000 people upon their career and life work path for over fourteen years - with compassion and heart. Teresa's workshops and writing, offer a deeper understanding and respect for ourselves, for others, and for our lifework path. This entrepreneurial woman also owned and successfully operated two women's retail boutiques for ten years. For over twelve years, Teresa was a well-read newspaper columnist. Visit Teresa at www.yourlifework.com">http://www.yourlifework.com; listen to your inner guidance and navigate through life and work with more meaning, acceptance and peace.
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The Importance of Friendship My students and clients have constantly heard me stress that our Martial Art is more than just a physical discipline; that it is a discipline that develops both the mind and body. This is so important that Soke Masaaki Hatsumi, the grand master of our lineages, has made it the primary thrust of just about every one of his books about Ninpo and Martial Arts in general. Hitler and the Tsunami In Catholic school the nuns used to tell us that we should love everyone as we loved Jesus. We didn't have to like them but we had to love them. Silence Inside Silence means no voice input of any sort. What happens when there is silence? We cannot hear anything from the outside, but the voices inside are what we hear pretty clearly. How To Walk On The Path Of Peace (Part 2) If you are praying daily for wisdom, for peace, a fuller realization of Truth, for happiness and that which you are praying for is still far from you, then you are praying for one thing while living out in thought and action something else. Begin to think and act in the spirit of that which you seek, and expect it. My Journey I believe it's important for you to develop a mission statement for your life; one that is unique and articulates your values, goals, dreams; how you want to live.Your mission statement is a living, breathing testimony of the life you are committed to living. Embracing Your Wildness As small children, we were all wild. Not unlike the wolf pup in the den, we ran when we felt like it, sniffed or tasted things to see what they were, yelled when the mood struck us and danced at the drop of a hat. Trust Yourself - The Hero's Way! Buying a VCR may not seem like a noteworthy purchase in a high-tech world yet it proved to be a worthy blessing offering much learning. Boxes filled with VHS recordings were unearthed from dark recesses where they had hidden for over a decade. From the Hint of a Rainbow to... The grey sky of morning contained an ominous quality. The clouds were so thick they were almost tangible. The Interactive Holodeck is For Real [Channelled]'Interact,' is a common word that most of you are familiar with these days and most all of you understand its meaning. It is a term that has come to popular awareness during the computer age. Heart Direct Answers - Column for the week of May 24, 2004I am the mother of a 6-year-old child. My husband is an alcoholic and refuses to realize it because he can skip a few days, once in awhile, before drinking again. A Lesson From A Hum Of A Bamboo Clump Have you heard a nature hymn? For example, a whir of ting-a-ling-a-ling sound yielded by bamboo leaves when wind blows to its clump? If you have an opportunity to visit a bamboo garden, try to listen to its hymn. The trees of a bamboo clump will sing along with the wind. I.Q. You Q. He, She, or It Qs. I have, in recent years, come to believe that IQ tests are a waste of time for most of us, and a waste of money for some of us. In fact, as a general rule of thumb, if you want to know how stupid you are, check to see if you're paying for an online IQ test. Its A Brand New Day Waking up one day and realizing your world just isn't working for you is the first step into an incredibly exciting new journey. That awakening is to be the first of many. Make A Difference - Just Go Make A Difference! Three Words That Can Help Us Live Exceptional LivesCertain words and word combinations carry with them varying levels of meaning for each of us.For instance, you may sense any number of reactions to one or more of these statements:"Strike three. Your Self-Image - How Is It Working for You? "All that you desire or require is already on your pathway, but you must be wide awake to your good to bring it into manifestation." - Florence Scovel ShinnWhether you are a professional secretary, a nurse, a vice-president in a large corporate organization; a creative arts director, or an attorney, as a total individual, you must always strive for self- improvement. Night of the Living Dead For many people, life has become as dull and despairing as death. We suffer from spiritual inertia. Energy Work Basics Part 4: Imagine! Einstein said, "Imagination is more important than knowledge".Did you know that athletes use the power of their imaginations to perfect their athletic performances? Musicians and vocalists do the same thing. Does Your Childhood Hold You Back? Have you come to a point in your life and got stuck and unable to move on?I've been shocked recently to discover how many women and men have suffered one trauma or another during childhood, in particular the amount that have been through abuse.The experience of abuse, at an age when it would be impossible to know how to handle it, is horrific, be it beatings, humiliation or sexual abuse. Increase Awareness With One Simple Question There are many ways we can increase our own personal awareness about our life and what we want to make out of it. Yet, we seldom ask the question, "Why am I doing this?" By consciously becoming more aware of what we do and why, we can then make phenomenal changes. Keep Hope Alive "Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all..
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