Week 25: Smelly Cat, Keeping Quiet, Tracking Fails

This year, I set myself 22 little goals to pursue throughout the year. I call them the 22 in 22. Each Saturday, I take a few minutes to check my progress on a few of my goals.

#3 Scoop the kitty litter as an act of love

Since our beloved Titi left us for that great sundrenched kitty condo in the sky, we have been left with just our one last cat, a big round tuxedo cat named Sunny. Sunny has never been a social guy. He’s gorgeous, don’t get me wrong. But he’s just shy.

It seems that he lived the first twelve years of his life waiting to be an only cat, because he has never been more friendly or more affectionate. My indulgent husband says I treat him badly, which isn’t really true. I talk badly to him, because he’s the only one in the family whose psyche won’t be destroyed if I actually said what I was thinking. Example: “get your rear end out of my face,” and “your breath stinks” and “it’s a good thing you’re good looking.” I wouldn’t say those things to a person. But my cat? He can take it. Besides. I put up with a lot from him.

In any case, I totally get why people like to have dogs. When everything else seems out of control and like no one else listens or respects us, a dog is there to fill in the void and make a person feel listened to and respected. I guess cats fill something of a similar role for those of us who have had enough of people and don’t have the patience for a dog.

#20 Practice Mindfulness: articulate and savor the good moments

As important as it is to articulate and savor the good moments, I noticed this week just how important it is to not articulate all the bad moments.

If it is in the articulation of the good moments that a memory finds its footing, then it is equally true of bad moments. The more I let little negative comments slip, the more real the little irritations seem.

This week was a week in which I walked a tightrope of just trying to keep my mouth shut on things that weren’t going well (while failing miserably). Forget about articulating the good. Just keeping my mouth shut was a goal.

#17 Track steps, water intake, monthly(ish) cycles

It should come as no surprise that I have been quite lax with all this tracking stuff. My pedometer went through a washer cycle, and my attempt to replace it this week failed (out of stock) I haven’t been drinking nearly enough water. (And then I’m surprised that I’m in a foul mood?)

Next week is week 26, that is, halfway through this year of 22 in 22. It might be a good idea to check in and do a bit of course correction. New Year’s Resolutions are great, but after six months, they don’t feel so fresh and exciting anymore. It’s not because they aren’t “fun” anymore that I can give up. I just need to reconnect to my “why.”

Episode 64: The Golden Rule Rules – Sing With Your Feet

In this last episode before the summer hiatus, Lily talks about this year's challenge to live out the Golden Rule and some of the hiccups that have appeared along the way.

1. Episode 64: The Golden Rule Rules 35:32
2. Episode 63: Foresight 31:32
3. Episode 62: Memory 30:13
4. Episode 61: Novelty 32:34
5. Episode 60: How to Have Great Sex 34:24