Clive, my 23-pound tabby hunk of feline love, teaches me life lessons every day. I thought it was high time I shared his words with you.

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I, Clive the Cat, hear my parents often say that I am more like a dog. I think they may be right, because I follow them around everywhere. I can’t help it! I love being with them! Well, I like to sleep and eat, but when I am awake and fed, I’m wherever they are.

I go to the productive places. My mommy’s laptop is always on her lap when she is home because she has much to do to write everything that I say and to finish her other writing and editing work. But, I always jump right between her lap and her hands. If she doesn’t stop to play with me. I push those black buttons and type for myself.

I go to the yummy places. If my parents are eating, I sit on the floor beside the dining room table. I usually put my front paws on the side of one of my parent’s chairs. I know that if I am too aggressive—if I jump onto their chairs or onto the table, I will get a spanking. It’s a much better strategy for me to play cute and let out a gentle meow. Then, they will likely share a bite of something yummy with me. But if I try to get something for myself from the table, I usually don’t get anything—except for a running start down the hall to try to escape punishment from my daddy.

I go to the scary places. Sometimes my parents eat outside on the patio. It is scary and loud because of the large moving objects around us. My parents call them cars and trucks. I call them monsters. There are even louder monsters in the sky, because we live near an airport. I gently tiptoe outside with my back curled ready to recoil if necessary. I always stay hidden under one of my parent’s chairs, but it’s worth being scared to be near them.

I go to the stinky places. I even follow my parents to the bathroom, and I sit on my mom’s or dad’s feet. They try to close the door to keep me out, but it doesn’t shut all the way, so I bust in. If they do close a door, I howl until they come to open it.

I go to the loving places. I go to the couch where my parents sit and snuggle and wedge myself between them. If they are laying down watching a movie, I get to jump up and watch it with them. If they are loving each other as a married couple, they don’t notice me for a while, but I know they will eventually pet me again!
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Applications for relationships and business: Do you occasionally show the people that you love them with dog-like enthusiasm? Make it a point to be obvious about your feelings of affection—at least once in a while. Everyone needs that kind of attention from time to time!

In business, where are your customers? You may have to go to where they are—and, just like Clive, you may have to go outside of your comfort zone to be in the place that may benefit you the most. 

Spiritual insights: Just like cat owners can’t get away from a cat that is a people cat, you can’t away from a people-loving God. I love that God pursues me so intently with the words and images He shows me through His Word. I love that Jesus came to be with people on earth so that He could be where they were, to reconcile them to a Holy God. Oh, how He loves and wants to be with all those He created! I also believe that God is a gentleman and will pursue anyone who wants to be open to know Him. If you want a deeper spiritual journey or if you want to know about Jesus Christ, read—or dig deeper—into the Bible.
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Loral, Clive’s mom, in addition to being everywhere Clive is, is a professional writer and editor who helps authors and businesses get whatever message is in their heads out to their target audiences. If you need help crafting a creative campaign, evaluating your content or completing a book, blog or other materials, check out her services at cowriterpro.com. 

 

Clive, my 23-pound tabby hunk of feline love, teaches me life lessons every day. I thought it was high time I shared his words with you. 

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I’ve got gunk. Every morning when I, Clive the Cat, wake up, part of my morning routine is letting my mom get the “gunk” out of my eyes. It’s this icky, crusty brown stuff. Because it keeps my eyes shut, it can be hard for me to wake up and get to my morning hair tie chase time, or to jump up onto my mom’s lay for essential head scratching time

I resisted help because I didn’t know better. When Mom first started trying to get my gunk out, I didn’t like it. In fact, I would squirm and contort to get away. That was a futile effort—she never let me go.

I didn’t know life without the “gunk,” and I guess I just accepted it as part of my limitations of being feline—kind of like how I have to rely on these tall creatures to feed me.

I’m better off without my “gunk.” But now after a few weeks of her forcing me to sit still, I know that once she gets the crusty, stuck part out, it is then easier for me to get about the business of being a cat. I can then use my own paws so that I can then finish washing the rest of my face and giving myself a bath.

Not only can I finish my self-grooming, but I can also see more clearly to run to my fresh morning bowl of food, and, once I am nourished, I have the energy to run into my parents lap for plenty of head petting and purring for my favorite activity ever: couch time.

So, instead of backing away like I used to when my mom gets my gunk out, I sit still and let her help me. When she is finished, I show my gratitude by licking her fingers. I know that her getting my gunk out is a much faster way for me to get to my ultimate goal. I know that she is loving me by helping me, and I celebrate how I am getting better—without the gunk and with her help.

Applications for Your Business and Life: What gunk are you living with? Who can you ask for help getting it out? Is there someone you already know who is ready and able to help? Is there someone you could ask for a referral? Should you call a graphic designer, a personal trainer, a doctor, a house cleaner—or perhaps a counselor or pastor?

Getting help may be just what you need. Ask God to help you push aside any pride, and ask Him and others who you trust about who—or what—you might need to get help with.

Just like Clive, you could find that with that help, you may get to your daily tasks faster—and ultimately have more energy for the things in life that you treasure the most.

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Loral, Clive’s mom, in addition to helping Clive get the gunk out, is a professional writer and journalist who helps authors and businesses get whatever message is in their heads out to their target audiences. If you need help crafting a creative campaign, evaluating your content or editing a book, blog or other materials, check out her services at cowriterpro.com.