| Cats are patient creatures. Mia and Leo can sit in | | | | the person behind the eyes? Are you afraid of |
| a window for long periods of time watching and | | | | not being accepted once the truth of you is |
| waiting, with tails wagging and mouths watering. I | | | | revealed? |
| hear them make chirpy sounds attempting to | | | | Begin by accepting the person in the mirror, |
| charm little birds or when they see squirrels and | | | | removing the mask, and stepping out of the |
| other small creatures. I watch them around the | | | | "wanna be circles." Spend time getting to know |
| apartment as they prepare to strike any strange | | | | the person you've been hiding from, and be gentle |
| object, crouching down, focusing, sneaking ever | | | | with the person you find. Consider this: not |
| so slowly in the direction of their prey and waiting | | | | everyone likes cats, but there are many who |
| for just the right moment. Then, they pounce-on | | | | love, understand, and accept these creatures just |
| each other, on my foot or finger, on a toy, or on | | | | as they are. In the same way, not everyone will |
| anything that moves and catches their eyes. | | | | like you, but there will be many who will love, |
| I don't know what goes on in the minds of cats, | | | | respect, and accept you. So, why worry about |
| but it appears that they enjoy the ritual of the | | | | those who don't? |
| hunt. Much like their cousins-lions and tigers-they | | | | When we stop pretending to be someone or |
| seem to enjoy stalking their prey. As I watch Mia | | | | something we're not, we feel free. We become |
| and Leo, I realize that although they can't capture | | | | more compassionate with ourselves and with |
| what they see from the window, they | | | | others, our sense of self grows, and we are |
| instinctively know what is true for them. This | | | | easier to be around because we allow others the |
| predatory behavior demonstrated by my cats | | | | freedom to be themselves, too. Our freedom |
| used to upset me. How could such sweet and | | | | releases others from any rigid behaviors or |
| graceful little animals harm other animals? Finally, I | | | | expectations they feel are necessary to be in our |
| accepted that these animals live by instinct, and | | | | world. As you accept yourself, you can accept |
| their instinct is to stalk and devour birds, mice, | | | | others and become more forgiving of their |
| and other creatures. | | | | humanness. Love comes easily to those who are |
| As I pondered this, I realized that one of the | | | | true to themselves, no matter how strange they |
| reasons I love cats is that they're not completely | | | | may appear to others. |
| domesticated. They are still a little wild, and most | | | | In the movie "The Accidental Tourist," the main |
| important; they are still true to who they are. | | | | character, Macon Leary, says of the rather |
| They haven't given up what is natural to them. | | | | strange, eccentric woman, Muriel Pritchett, a |
| Yes, Mia and Leo are sweet, cuddly creatures, but | | | | woman he has come to love, "I'm beginning to |
| they can be predators, too. I can't change that, | | | | think that maybe it's not about how much you |
| nor do I want to. | | | | love someone. Maybe what matters is who you |
| What about you? How true are you to who you | | | | are when you're with them." Are you a joy to be |
| are? Have you twisted and turned so much that | | | | around? Or are you so busy seeking approval |
| you have forgotten who you are? Who do you | | | | that you drain everyone around you? Think about |
| see when you look in the mirror? Do you know | | | | it!! |