A therapist friend of mine years ago was given a framed picture with the following list nestled under a beautiful “fat cat”.  The words so struck a chord with me that I felt a need to share this with as many people as possible.  With addictions and other life struggles people tend make life so complicated.  Maybe it is time to slow down and examine where to truly put our energies!  Have a good laugh with “fat cat”!

So “All I need to know about life I learned from my cat” goes like this:

•  Life is hard, then you nap.
• Curiosity never killed anything except maybe a few hours.
• When in doubt, cop an attitude.
• Variety is the spice of life:  one day ignore people, the next day annoy them.
• Climb your way to the top-that’s why the drapes are there.
• Never sleep alone when you can sleep on someone’s face.
• Find your place in the sun-especially if it happens to be on that nice pile of warm, clean laundry.
• Make your mark in the world-or at least spray in each corner.
• When eating out, think nothing of sending back your meal twenty or thirty times.
• If you’re not receiving enough attention, try knocking over several expensive antique lamps.
• Always give generously-a small bird or rodent left on the bed tells them “I care”.

All of us have a “fat cat” or two in our lives, and maybe we have even been the “fat cat”. It is up to all of us to have a good laugh from time to time.  Ultimately, however, we also need to be considerate and respectful of other people in our environment.  The trick is in finding the balance between being the “fat cat” having fun and the human being respectful.  It just takes a little ingenuity and desire to do so.  Give it your best effort each day!

“Submission is not about authority and it is not obedience; it is all about relationships of love and respect.” ― Wm. Paul Young