The Doing Well Newsletter | Vol. 11
by Jesse Katches
This is a sad one
i don’t want to bring you down, but it’s been a really tough week for me.
this past wednesday my little baby cat, Cricket, unexpectedly passed away. she was just 1 and 1/2 years old and she meant everything to me.
in the mornings she would follow me around as i went through my routine and would then patiently standby for our daily playtime sessions.
in the afternoons she would lay nearby as i worked and i’d take frequent breaks to give her little chin scratches as she sprawled on her back.
at night she would weave between my legs as i got ready for bed and then stay up playing by herself into the late hours of the night.
she was always there, and now she isn’t.
and having dealt with loss before, as i sit here with swollen eyes from crying, i feel i have at least the minimum level of mental capacity required to reflect back on her short, energetic, and uplifting life, in order to see a few lessons already beginning to form which i know will stay with me for the rest of my life, and i want to share them with you now..
always play full out and enjoy every day as if it were your last
no matter what day, no matter what time, no matter how she was feeling, Cricket gave it her all and played every chance she got. even on the final morning of her life, just hours before she passed away, she played harder than she’s ever played before and when we finished, she wanted to play some more… no matter what you decide to do in life, give it your all, go full out, and infuse playfulness every chance you get. we never know what day will be our last, so let’s not waste a single one of them.
give love often, and make more time for the things that matter
did i get upset with her when i would try to film a video and she would be causing mayhem - making noise, tearing down curtains, knocking down plants, and breaking picture frames? yes. but did i always go to her immediately after and make sure she knew i loved her? absolutely. because all she was doing was playing, and she never once stopped being a loving companion in any circumstance… i regret the moments of anger towards her, but i’ll never regret pouring out my love to her. i regret the times i was too busy to give her attention, but i’ll never regret taking the time to play with her when i did. life is short, giving love and doing things that matter makes it worth living. hold back anger, and give love. say no to trivial pursuits, and yes to the meaningful things that bring you joy.
trust your instincts and take uncomfortable action
i had suspected something to be wrong with my girl for some time and i did take her to the vet on multiple occasions. they gave bandaid treatments and did not express the level of concern that they should have in order to spark my sense of urgency. with that said, i don’t blame the vets, but i do wonder if i could have done more and pushed harder for the necessary treatment when there was still time to do so. often times in life, we have gut feelings, they’re not always right, but they’re always worth exploring. so, trust your instincts enough to take action and get to the bottom of what they’re trying to tell you, even if those actions are uncomfortable and inconvenient. often times it’s those uncomfortable and inconvenient actions that get us what we want most in life, and it’s when we ignore those actions that we remain where we are.
in this moment, i truly am devastated, but still, i’m so grateful for the precious time i got to spend with her. she brought us so much joy, laughter, light, energy, and love, and if i could choose to remove the pain by erasing the experience, i would never do it in a million years.
she changed my life for the better and i hope the lessons she left behind can enrich yours as well.
have a wonderful weekend .
Jesse