[Nammu]

The last time I was in an IOP program ( several years ago) they had a unit on mindfulness. They described it as being fully present in the moment. .........it just hit me a few days ago that I stop what I'm doing and watch my cat. In those moments I'm full present observing my guy as he grooms or sleeps. He has an ever present smile and is totally focused on what he is doing. BA Bing! The lightbulb moment. Maybe IOPs should have a room of cats to teach mindfulness class? No wonder cat reduce heart rates!

[neverending]

I also experienced that with one of my cats when going to sleep at night, she would lay beside me n I would concentrate on how her fur felt, how her paw felt on me, what her licking me felt like n listening to her purr. Unfortunately she got very sick n I had to put her down in January.

But with my cat now, now that we have become a one cat household, she lays on top of my body in the morning and I can concentrate on how her weight on me feels, what it feels like when she shifts her body n, again, listening to her purr.

Her presence helped calm me as the hurricane approached and decisions had to change from evacuation to staying because the path of it was moving in.to the area to evacuate to, it was a time of watching the spaghetti maps, n she kept following me around, n I kept petting her. That helped divert my attention off of myself. So I guess that is mindfulness.

[Wild Coyote]

I am grateful for lightbulb moments.
Thanks so much for sharing!


WC

[bizi]

Originally Posted by Nammu

The last time I was in an IOP program ( several years ago) they had a unit on mindfulness. They described it as being fully present in the moment. .........it just hit me a few days ago that I stop what I'm doing and watch my cat. In those moments I'm full present observing my guy as he grooms or sleeps. He has an ever present smile and is totally focused on what he is doing. BA Bing! The lightbulb moment. Maybe IOPs should have a room of cats to teach mindfulness class? No wonder cat reduce heart rates!

My husband has been reading this book called "The Power of Now".
He said it is very thoughtful and talks about being present in the moment.

Since therapy dogs are a real thing, I've always wondered why cats aren't.

I used to work at an animal shelter and I'd watch after both the cats and dogs. (Well, walk the dogs and feed the cats.) Both animals were therapeutic to me, but in different ways. It's hard to explain... but I think cats would provide a unique alternative. They bond in a different way.

I like both animals though.

[Nammu]

I like dogs too.

Originally Posted by neverending

I also experienced that with one of my cats when going to sleep at night, she would lay beside me n I would concentrate on how her fur felt, how her paw felt on me, what her licking me felt like n listening to her purr. Unfortunately she got very sick n I had to put her down in January.

But with my cat now, now that we have become a one cat household, she lays on top of my body in the morning and I can concentrate on how her weight on me feels, what it feels like when she shifts her body n, again, listening to her purr.

Her presence helped calm me as the hurricane approached and decisions had to change from evacuation to staying because the path of it was moving in.to the area to evacuate to, it was a time of watching the spaghetti maps, n she kept following me around, n I kept petting her. That helped divert my attention off of myself. So I guess that is mindfulness.

i'm sorry to hear about your cat.

cats are wonderful, wish I had 1 honestly

[WildcatVet]

My cats are better therapists than my therapist. I can always count on at least one of them being in Zen mode, but the responsibility of caring for them gives me a purpose.
Some people have said that's pathetic...and you might imagine what I say to them.

[Nammu]

That's not pathetic at all!

[Shazerac]

Yay! Mindfulness I highly recommend it! Not that I always do it

[emgreen]

My German shepherd is 13 & her hips & general health are failing. I don't know what I'll do when the time comes that we have to make a difficult decision. My GF works 60+ hours a week & I collect SSDI, so I'm home alone most of the time. While I have a few friends, Hildie is probably my best friend...& a source of meditative comfort. I can tell her how I'm feeling & she never judges me. She treats my coming back home when I've been out as some kind of miracle - happily bouncing around & running to her treat basket because she knows I'm a sucker. Yep...An animal is a far better therapist than any human therapist. Hildie sometimes seems to keep me grounded when things begin spiraling out of control.

[Nammu]

Yeah, animals are so much better at teaching than humans.

My pets have saved my life so many times. Almost daily I will get lost in happiness as I pet them and they suck up and enjoy the love. When I'm very depressed I always feel my pets deserve a better mom......I always feel I'm not good enough for them and can't take care of them how they deserve. Then I feel guilty for feeling that way. my dogs are pretty spoiled with love, cuddles and pets but there are things I wish I could give them that I can't. Having 3 dogs is too much for me and I won't do it again. My Golden Retriever died several years ago and I mourned and was depressed for years. I don't trust or bond with humans often so my animals are very important to me.....I just wish I were healthier for them.