Cats are whimsical. They aren't afraid of being disliked.

Hello, this is Aya ^^

Today,

I want to live like a cat.

I'd like to talk about that.

You might be wondering, "What's this all of a sudden?" lol

I love cats.

I want to dedicate my retirement to cats, and I love them so much that I want to be a cat if I'm reborn.

Their cute appearance and gestures are, of course, one of the reasons I like them,

but they eat when they want to eat, play when they want to play, and sleep when they want to sleep.

They live such free and easy lives, don't they?

I'm so envious.

I admire that way of life,

and I think I find them so attractive not just because of their lifestyle, but because they naturally embody "

living true to oneself", something that we humans often lose sight of.

I think that's why I find them so appealing.

We humans are constantly
bound by things like
"you must not do this" or
"you have to do that" as we live our lives.

You must not cause trouble for others.

You must not be wasteful.

You must start work at 9 AM.

You must conform to those around you and read the room.

You must be a good mother.

But lately,
I've started to think that living while ignoring "your own pace"
might actually be
a very dangerous thing.

It is said that the lifespan of a stray cat is about 3 to 5 years.

They are constantly exposed to the struggle for survival,
they aren't always able to eat when they want to,
and they can't even sleep in peace.

On the other hand, the average lifespan of a house cat,
which can live at its own leisurely pace, is 14.2 years.
Some even live for over 20 years.

I think that the big difference
is not just a "safe environment,"
but that "whether or not they can live at their own pace"
is also important.

I have two cats at home,
and they are turning 15 this year.

They really do
live their lives just as they please.

One moment they are basking in the sun
by their favorite sunny window,

and the next they suddenly stand up and go somewhere else.
(They're usually just sleeping somewhere else...)

Even if I buy a nice, fluffy cat bed that looks warm,
if the cat doesn't like it,
they won't use it at all.
(They end up spending all their time in a tattered cardboard box.)

Even when humans are at maximum excitement
and swinging a cat toy around wildly,
if they aren't in the mood,
they just pierce you with a cold stare.

When they want food or treats,
they don't care if it's 5:00 AM,
they'll stomp on my face while I'm sleeping,

or they'll plant themselves in front of my PC while I'm working
to assert their presence.
(Please don't step on the keyboard~~💦)

But even when cats treat me
in such a "fickle" way,
I can't bring myself to dislike them at all.

If anything, I just watch them fondly,
thinking, "How cute."

Even though I think they're treating me quite rudely,
honestly, what is that about? Haha.

I think that's probably because
cats live honestly
according to their own feelings.
That's what I sometimes think.

Cats aren't afraid of being disliked,
so they don't try to force themselves to fit in
or interact with you just to be polite.

That's why I can interact with them
without hiding my true feelings,

and if I do something they don't like,
I can honestly feel "I'm sorry."

At the end of the day,
it feels like we trust each other,

and it's very comfortable.

Even in human relationships,
rather than someone who is overly cautious,
someone who honestly tells you
their preferences and feelings is better.

We don't have to unnecessarily
put on a facade for each other,
and in fact, it's easier
to get along, isn't it?

We humans, too,

often think, "I wish I could
live more honestly with my feelings."

I think so.

Whether it's the feeling of "not wanting to be disliked" or
our position at a company or in our work,

I think it's common to
suppress who we really are.

However, if you hide your true self and
try to force yourself to fit in,
both your mind and body will gradually wear down.

When I worked at a black company,
I saw many people who broke their minds and bodies
doing just that, and

I also heard stories of acquaintances who, at first glance,
seemed to be working without stress at a good company,
but ended up having a mental breakdown
and taking a leave of absence.

Just as there is such a difference in lifespan
between stray cats and house cats,

valuing your own pace
isn't just being "selfish,"

but might actually be necessary
to live with a healthy mind and body.

If we try living more honestly with ourselves,
stress will decrease, and
I wonder if we might be able to build
more comfortable relationships with those around us.

That's what I think!

Aya

P.S.

You might be able to live at your own pace like a cat!?

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