I'm glad your kitty helped. I have those moments as well, especially in the past few days after losing my friend.

Reading about stoicism has helped me with despair because the stoics believe that what gives meaning to life is living according to one's own system of reason and virtue. I've been able to drag myself to the gym a few times by telling myself the stoic advice not to avoid difficult things, with the idea that you will suffer anyway if you avoid those things. But if I fall short, I just forgive myself and move on.

And yes, kitties are so awesome. Animals in general because they live in the moment and don't worry.

"We suffer more in imagination than reality" - Senecca