Lessons from the Cat

Posted on June 22, 2022 | 30 Comments
Zizi kitty cat

Sometimes I lose sight of the big picture, which (in my opinion) is that there isn’t one. According to various charts, I have between 27-32 years left on this earth, and I don’t want to spend that time stressing over what I haven’t accomplished. Instead, I plan to “enjoy every sandwich” as Warren Zevon famously said after being diagnosed with a fatal disease. It’s good advice regardless because you never know when your time is up.

Kitty at window / dreams of birds she cannot reach / soaks up the warm sun

~*~
©️2022 Paula Light and Light Motifs II. No unauthorized use permitted.

Haibun written for Haibun Wednesday. App won’t let me single space, hence separators. Pic is of my daughter’s sweet kitty Zizi who went over the rainbow bridge last year.

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30 responses to “Lessons from the Cat”

  1. newepicauthor | June 22, 2022 at 2:05 pm |

    That sounds like a good philosophy to follow. You have to live for today, because tomorrow may never come.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Ashley L. Peterson | June 22, 2022 at 2:47 pm |

    And enjoy every cupcake! 🧁

    Liked by 2 people

  3. Asbestos Dust | June 22, 2022 at 2:47 pm |

    Strongly recommended book — and you know I don’t do recommendations — is “Four Thousand Weeks – Time Management For Mortals” by Oliver Burkeman.

    He points out that life, with some exceptions either direction, generally works out to about 4000 weeks. Everyone lives like they’re “banking” time, money, retirement, leaving a mark, whatever, that they can “have it all”, or “be more efficient to Get More Done” to make more time available. But you can’t. It’s simply not possible. You can’t do 30 hours of shit in 24 hours, no matter how efficient you are, and even if you leave ZERO for yourself.

    When one of the 4000 weeks slips by, it’s gone — you haven’t saved any of it for later. Short version (although MUCH better presented in the book) is STOP living for the future and packing more shit into today to make time for later if it involves giving up today for some utterly unattainable goal..

    Book changed my approach to all KINDS of things.

    Liked by 3 people

    • Paula Light | June 22, 2022 at 3:03 pm |

      Thanks for the rec! And good to “see” you again 😍

      Like

      • Asbestos Dust | June 22, 2022 at 3:35 pm |

        Yeah, coming up on a month since I touched my blog. My online time has been sharply curtailed, but should be coming back around now that being on my bike is into that part of the years that it’s like riding into a blowtorch.

        Got a couple of thousand miles on since we last talked and, as always with me, the more ride I take, the less useful stuff I do. But I read y’all (specifically you and a few others) all the time. And I may actually sit back down at a keyboard now that I’m getting tired of slow-roasting my dangly bits out and about on the road…

        Maybe an educational post expanding on summertime riding in the south and specifically on what a biker means when he talks about “swamp butt”. (shrug) Or not. The more you know…

        Liked by 2 people

      • Paula Light | June 22, 2022 at 4:20 pm |

        Looking forward to reading you! Er maybe not the swamp butt 😂

        Like

    • Prior... | June 22, 2022 at 5:46 pm |

      Sounds like a great book – thanks

      Liked by 1 person

  4. King Ben's Grandma | June 22, 2022 at 3:36 pm |

    Cool style! I agree with enjoying every sammich! And napping in a warm sunny spot 😻

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Prior... | June 22, 2022 at 5:47 pm |

    Purrrrrrfectly ponderous post!
    🐈

    Liked by 2 people

  6. Sadje | June 22, 2022 at 9:38 pm |

    Very good credo to live by.

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Belladonna | June 23, 2022 at 7:46 am |

    Well said my friend. We lose sight of enjoying the moment.

    Liked by 2 people

  8. blindzanygirl | June 23, 2022 at 2:47 pm |

    I totally agree with this philosophy Paula.

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Keera Ann Fox | June 24, 2022 at 6:26 am |

    The kitty in the haiku has the right idea: Find pleasure where you.

    Liked by 1 person

  10. Donna Matthews | June 28, 2022 at 11:15 am |

    So-very-true! Love, love the “enjoy every sandwich” sentiment.

    Liked by 1 person

  11. Pingback: Haibun Wednesday, June 29, 2022 | Go Dog Go Café

  12. gc | July 1, 2022 at 7:18 am |

    Good for you. You have a wise cat. There is a song by Diana Krall titled “I’ll make it up as I go”. That is all you can really do in life. There are no guarantees on anything. Enjoy each day as it comes. But enjoy don’t fret. 😉

    Liked by 1 person