We have a cat at home, and his name is Tigger. He is an adorable creature, and he is not the only one who thinks so. Tigger is a source of joy, happiness, entertainment, learning, or just plain relaxation when needed. He may not be big—he stands only about a foot tall when on all four legs—but every inch of Tigger, mostly divided between orange and white stripes, is like a session at the most exclusive Beverly Hills therapist’s office. Watching him day in and day out provides us with invaluable lessons that can not be learned from books, read in exclusive fashion magazines, or seen in talk shows by people whose names start with O, or titles like Doctor. It would be selfish on our part to keep all what we’ve learned from Tigger to ourselves, so here is a little lick (taste) of his wisdom:
- When you wake up in morning, stretch, be grateful for a good night’s sleep, and look forward to all the great things the day will bring.
- Treat all days with a happy attitude, whether it’s sunny or rainy—it should not spoil your good mood.
- Keep looking up, that’s where all the good things come from.
- If you need something and people tell you no, don’t let that discourage you from trying. Just be persistent and sooner or later there will be a yes for you, and you’ll get what you need.
- Keep a regular schedule in all you do and that includes your eating habits, your play time, and your well-deserved relaxation time; that’s the way to keep healthy.
- Drink plenty of water, it does the body good.
- Protein is good for your diet.
- You get things when you are pleasant, never when you are grouchy.
- Expand your horizons by learning new languages so you can communicate with others who don’t speak your tongue. (Tigger tries to talk to squirrels, dogs, mosquitoes, or any creature he encounters on the balcony.)
- Pay attention to your instincts to spot those who don’t wish you well; listen to your gut feeling.
- Don’t settle for less when you know you deserve more, so sleeping on a pillow always beats sleeping on the floor.
- Be a cat person: cats have servants, dogs have masters.
- It doesn’t matter what people say about you. It’s what you think about yourself that matters. Always think highly of yourself, and people will treat you as such.
