To Nap and Play Like Kitties

"Pets live so contentedly in the present moment."~BanBreathnach

Every day I am humored by my kitties and their crazy antics. But I'm also given a sense of peace when watching them sleep. I guess it is like having children in that sense. No matter how my little ones make me feel, and I can tell you that sometimes they drive me up the wall, I am often envious of their ability to be content no matter what they are up to. Now, I don't want to contradict myself because I believe that if we are unhappy in our lives we should not try to force ourselves to be content- we should take steps to do better- but I also think that when living in the present moment and doing the best we can to live our most fulfilling lives, we need to take time to look at ourselves and say "Okay, life is good, I'm content with this." Most people will never have everything they want, but as long as we are striving for a purpose greater than our own needs, I think that we can feel pretty good about ourselves.

"The greatest use of life is doing something that will outlast it."
~ William James

While striving to serve a purpose beyond ourselves, it is also important to play, to be merry, and to have fun. My cats play with a vivacity that makes me laugh uncontrollably at times. They run around my apartment as if they had a never-ending reserve of youth and energy. Although we often become so exhausted and stressed that it is hard to be pleasant, it's important to remember that each minute we stay grumpy we lose out on precious time we could be spending doing other things- like playing, loving, and making memorable moments. So, next time you are feeling down and need a pick-me-up, look at all the good things in your life and be content with those things- love your family and let them love you back, watch your pets play, rest and rejuvenate yourself, take a nap, curl up with a book-- liive in the moment and smile!

(This post expresses some of my feelings, but it is mostly a great excuse to post pictures of my little sweethearts! Aren't they cute?!)