Lessons From my Cat
Posted in Miscellaneous on November 15th, 2007 by Erin DietrichI got a cat three weeks ago. Watching him adjust to his new surroundings and figure out the power dynamics of my home and my daily habits has been quite a learning experience. In fact, crazy as it may sound, I have found myself pondering how his experiences translate to the human experience.
King Teddy, yes this really is my cat’s name, is an interesting and curious fellow. This morning King Teddy snuggled up beside me as I worked on a post. I find close editing difficult to do on a computer screen and most often opt for the pen and paper approach. As I turned on the printer, fiddled with the toner and loaded the paper King Teddy watched me with passive curiosity. He raised an eyebrow, but barely lifted his head, figuring it was not of interest.
However, once I hit the print button everything changed. King Teddy’s ears perked up, whiskers started twitching and he was on his feet immediately. As the paper began shooting out of the printer he quickly made his way over to see what was going on. King Teddy didn’t bat the printer or paper, he didn’t try to stop the process, rather he observed attentively and obviously full of curiosity. Once the last page printed I removed the paper, keeping an amused eye on King Teddy all the while.
With the paper gone and only the quiet hum of my computer left it was time for King Teddy to start investigating. He peered into the paper tray, sniffed where he saw the paper exit and watched my actions for clues on how to relate to this new item. After all was quiet for a couple of minutes, King Teddy must have felt safe again as he made his way back over to his still warm resting spot, curled up and went back to relaxing.
His reactions intrigued me and I began thinking how similar they are to how we all relate to new things in our lives. Things that may have been there all along, but never drew our attention. Things outside of our usual expectations, or maybe different than what we thought their purpose or intent were. This may be a job, a friendship or even a way of viewing the world. It seems a great deal could be learned by watching how you react when one of these situations pops up.
King Teddy showed me a few different approaches that I recognized. First, fear. We can run and hide until it is over, until all has returned to normal, or maybe until we can just convince ourselves that it is back to normal - pretend nothing ever happened. Second, we can investigate. With alertness and curiosity making us bold. Or third, act aggressively. King Teddy could have chosen to attack the printer to “show it who is boss“ in the attempt to prove his place in the household power dynamics. Although hiding or aggression may come quickly, possibly naturally, neither truly allows us to understand the new and figure out how to work with or around it only a detached curiosity provides this.
Yes, King Teddy may only be a cat, but he is one smart cat, and watching him has provided me with a couple of light bulb moments. What more could want from the prince, er, King in their life?
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November 15th, 2007 at 8:22 am
Well put. Also good to to see you’re back!
I totally agree that letting the “flight or fight” reaction rule us isn’t the way to go, generally. Instead, cultivating curiosity and making the decision to learn as much about the new (whatever) as possible yields not only new knowledge, but can make you friends, discover medicines, and just in general make life more fun
November 15th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Actually, your first and third responses are both prompted by fear. One is simply the passive reaction to fear, and the other the active response.
November 15th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
Teddy is smarter than my kitten. She keeps trying to get her paws into the printer.
November 19th, 2007 at 5:37 am
This post reminds us that animals are often giving us opportunities to learn from their experience and wisdom. We just have to open our senses.
Jason makes key points about how fear can be a passive or active reaction. I would encourage you to step back even further. Consider for at least a few moments that the real you is only observing reactions of your body. What if you aren’t these reactions at all. What if you are really the observer taking it all in and deciding what to do with all you take in?
November 19th, 2007 at 5:50 am
Animals offer us many opportunities to learn from their wisdom and life experience. The question is, how many people truly pay much attention?Some people ask whether George Orwell’s, “Animal Farm” is full of truth.
Jason makes key points that fear can be a passive or active reaction. You could choose to control fear or let it control you. I would encourage you to step back even further. Consider you’re actually an observer of projected reactions. That’s right. You observe emotions that are generated and expressed. Perhaps you await what happens. Will the mind react as your soul has predicted? Do you sense you exist just to learn and collect info?
You might make an analogy with the tv show “Myth Busters.”
November 21st, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Cats are so Zen, aren’t they. They don’t think … they just do. I wish I was more like that. Thinking almost always gets me in trouble.
Happy Thanksgiving Erin and Jenny!
November 21st, 2007 at 9:34 pm
My cat just watches from a distance - she’s curious yet cautious.
November 26th, 2007 at 10:10 am
Liara… you don’t have to “not be” your body in order to be the observer. It’s just that it’s not ALL of who you are, merely a part. And not necessarily even a permanent part… but a part for now, at least.