Early last Sunday morning, I went outside to pick up the newspaper.  I made a smacking noise to call our little night owl cat, Lucy.  We had taught our cats to come to that sound so we’d never disturb the neighbors. 

I heard a faint meow coming from the yard across the street.  A big brown tabby came running as if I was his long lost friend.  He greeted me with enthusiasm, and enthused himself right into the house, before I could stop him.  I put him outside, but he patiently showed us that he knew how to use a cat door, three times, with what I think was a smile on his face.

We placed Found signs in the neighborhood, ads in two newspapers, and asked everyone we met.  No answers.  After a week went by, we began to ask our friends if they’d like a new cat.  He was everything we described…peaceful, loving, adaptable, friendly, and easy to have around.  No takers.  Then someone said they’d like to come by and meet him…a potential new owner, but they wanted a different type of cat.

Day 8:  I woke up in a very funky mood…not sure why.  I couldn’t pinpoint what I was feeling…out of sorts?

I write and teach joy.  I wasn’t feeling much of joy, and couldn’t shake my strange mood.  I was working on my book, The Joy Choice, in which I share how to restore a loving attitude when fear or anger is active in our mind.  I took the steps to discover what my present attitude was.  It wasn’t fear or anger, but it didn’t feel like love.  I was grumpy, weepy, and absolutely down-n-n-n…what was it?

I busied myself, tried to concentrate on writing, tried to prepare for a trip coming up.  There was something I hadn’t remembered to do.  I got quiet and still and asked Spirit for help.  I asked:

• When have I felt these feelings before?
• If I did know what I was feeling, what would it be?
  

Thoughts came into my mind of the time when my dad was dying from cancer.  

What did this have to do with what I was feeling?  

I let myself really feel the feelings.  Sadness welled up in me, and I cried.  The feeling was sadness, but there was more. I was feeling love, attachment, and the great sadness of having to give him up. I remember feeling I had to accept my loss and accept it as a part of life.  There was no choice.  

What in the world could this have to do with a stray cat?

That’s when I got it. I didn’t want to make this decision with my intellect.  I needed to get out of my head and into my heart.  I knew we weren’t looking for another cat, it wasn’t practical, or mature to even consider another.  My heart said something else. I decided to share my feelings with my husband, and he surprised me with his answer.

How often do you give yourself time and space to really know what you feel? How often do you check with your heart?  Your heart doesn’t always appear to be practical, but it understands more than your intellect can consciously know.  When you check with your heart, you get the answers which don’t always make sense at first, but answers from the heart bring love and peace.

Too many cats?  We wouldn’t have chosen to seek out another one.  Our pets have mostly found us.  They’ve chosen us, and we believe in adopting strays, especially when they are placed squarely in our paths. 

Many of the best things in life arrive when we’re not looking for them, when they simply sneak into hearts.

Let me introduce a new member of the family….We named him…what else? Joy!

Joy & Blessings,
Carole  xx