Simple Joy, Mysticism, reading, forums, Numerology, Sun Signs, Divination

Posts: 5109 · Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:25 am

Follow your passion, and success will follow you.
~Arthur Buddhold

I was in the middle of a busy day working at the restaurant where I was a line cook when I received a call from my younger sister, who was also my roommate.

"Don't be mad!" she said to me.

I wondered what new drama was headed our way.

"There's a cat in the apartment," she said. "I just had to take him!" Her co-worker had asked if anyone would take this kitten. It had been abandoned near his parents' home along with its siblings and mother. This one kitten was the sole survivor. The co-worker's mother had bottle-fed the little creature, but had to keep it in the porch attached to the house, because her husband was not fond of cats. The kitten needed a home!

I arrived home to find a chubby bundle of orange-and-white kitten staring up at me as if to say, "Here I am, figure out how to take care of me!" I made a makeshift litter box from a cardboard box and went to the store to buy a bag of litter and a box of cat food. From then on, I was responsible for the needs of that little ball of fluff.

I had no idea what to call the beast. "Let's call her Princess!" my sister insisted.

"Princess?" I exclaimed. "That's not a real name!"

"Yes, Princess Abigail!" She said. So, Princess Abigail it was and I called her Abby for short. As "Princess Abigail" grew, we soon discovered that she was a he. Try as we might, we could not get another more gender-appropriate name to stick even after he ripped off his pink collar in protest. Abby remains his moniker to this day.

The years ahead were filled with working full time and going to university part-time. They, of course, were also filled with change and, yes, more cats. My sister moved to her own apartment and my boyfriend, Adam, moved in with his own cat, Gizmo, pure white with lots of attitude. Abby and the "new girl" worked out their differences fairly quickly. They could often be found lazily grooming each other in the middle of the bed, enjoying a patch of sunshine. They settled into a comfortable life together, feasting on only the best cat kibble and treats and enjoying the most love and attention two cats could ever dream of. I never thought that I would be sharing my life with one cat; now I had two.

Through all of the stress, busy days and changes, the cats remained a constant. I discovered a great joy in taking care of their basic needs. Cleaning up after them, feeding them and administering ear drops without getting my arms completely shredded! They also ministered to me, coming to find and entertain me when I was worried or depressed. Taking a bath, I would look over to see the pink tips of two ears peaking over the edge of the tub, followed by two green eyes and finally the triangle nose and whiskers. Abby would stand there on his hind feet, peering at the fascinating water and then at me, as if demanding an explanation.

One of the biggest stresses of my life was trying to balance work and school. Though I found the courses interesting, I did not fit into the university scene. I could not imagine going to school for years and years as a professional academic or finally graduating from university only to discover that I still did not truly know what I wanted to "do" for my life's work. I expressed my concerns to an academic advisor, who suggested that I take some time to consider what, in my day-to-day life, made me happy.

One evening, as I sat stroking Abby, who was laid out on his side, eyes closed, purring like a finely tuned engine, I thought about what that advisor had said. What made me happy? I suddenly realized something. This made me happy! Taking care of these furry beasts and there basic needs was the work that I was meant to do. It dawned on me, what peace I found in performing these humble and simple tasks.

I quickly began doing some research and found a college nearby that offered a course in animal health. I was fortunate to be able to volunteer at the local animal shelter and veterinary clinic to gain valuable experience. I immediately found a job at a pet resort, doing exactly what I was meant to do.

The other day, someone commented on how lucky I was to do what I love every day. This made me think. Sometimes, the satisfaction we seek in life does not come from a high salary or powerful position. I am very lucky that an abandoned kitten stumbled into my life to show me the importance and value of the simple things in this world.