As happy as a cat or a dog

[sunshineXTC]

Today I was thinking how I feel like a content cat or dog among humans. If you've ever had a pet, you probably know what I mean. They play. They relax. They enjoy interaction when they choose. They enjoy naps when they choose. They seem to do what they choose when they choose and it flows completely effortlessly for them. They even love with great loyalty and unconditionally. When do they ever even as for anything in return? They're just content little creatures as a general rule.

Then there's us - Humans. Look around and you see people driving themselves nuts. Everything is so much work for some. So little time is taken to just be content and enjoy. When did we decide we needed to be fixed? When did we come to the conclusion that we are broken? Why do we drive ourselves batty with all this constant reaching? Nothing is wrong with reaching. Don't misunderstand me. It can be fun and fill us with life affirming vitality (except of course when it doesn't, which is when we've let that reaching become the only reason we exist, the only thing we strive for any longer).

I've been taking the cat's approach to things lately. Or maybe the dog's. I don't really distinguish between the two. I just see them as happy creatures that know how to appreciate the moment more than most of us. It's simple for them. They're not running around with odd goals filling their thoughts. They just do what they need to do when they need to do it and the rest of the time is enjoying the moment. I've been that batty human chasing goals and things and strangely none of them ever really brought as much contentment as relaxing in the moment ever did. I thought they would. I actually thought they would do better than that. But I've come to realize that there really isn't anything better than living in a relaxed and appreciative state of being, not worrying about the nonsense, enjoying the moments as they are, without having to achieve something in order to feel that very state of bliss that I already feel.

Seth talks about our rational mind and intellect and how they get in our way. He's really onto something there. I'm reading The Magical Approach again after many years. I don't think I ever really read or grasped it before. We're really not meant to be humans on an assembly line or purely intellectual in a state of perpetual doing rather than doing as is needed and freely being the rest of the time. Seems like that's where we got off track, perhaps with the start of the industrial revolution? Now we run around in circles mostly getting nowhere. Seems like for all our 'advancements' we've lost the general idea behind life - to simply be and enjoy being.

The more I let go of all the nonsense and simply relax and allow myself to be (like a content cat or dog) the more content I realize I actually am.

The universe already knows all the things I want. I'm going to let it do its job while I relax and enjoy being for a while. Anyone care to join me?

[lycan]

I used to have a dog as a kid. He was psychotic. He could be quiet and calm but he would attack you for no real reason, out of nowhere. If he was in my bed, I would be very afraid of trying to move him off. I have a bunch of scars from him. He would go on fits of rage and bark violently in the "I'm gonna kill you if you take another step!" pose for hours, upon hours, upon hours. If you took another step, he would attack. I don't think cats and dogs are good role models.

[myjourney11]

I have a doberman and 2 cats. I understand completely what you mean about them being content. Infact, I always comment about how wonderful their lives are. Sadly not all animals have it so calm and simple. A lot need to work for their food and sleep "with one eye open". I would trade places with my animals in a second