Don't Box Me In: Lessons From My Cat

Are you always on the lookout 🔍 for new ideas? Trying to keep your eyes 😃👀😃 open for motivation to follow your dreams? 

Fantastic! As you do, you will discover that motivation, inspiration and sources of learning can be found all around you! 

Amazingly, even our pets can teach us a thing or two! 😸😻😸

Today's Lesson by Miss CallieCat

Let me start by introducing you to this little furball, who goes by the name of CallieCat. She is your typical cat that normally goes about her day on her own terms. However, on this particular day, I was attempting to manipulate her to my terms: as a photography 📷 subject. 

I had been following her around with my smartphone for a little while, to work on my focusing skills and candid shots. And as I watched her with these empty boxes, it hit me that I was being taught some very interesting concepts about life!

1. Don't Let Anyone Box You In.

I had been trying to get her to jump into the other box. She was not having anything to do with it. When I least expected it, she jumped into this box on her own. Then, looked at me like, "I will get in the box I want, when I want!"

2. Have an Open Mind, and Stay Curious.

Learning is always a good thing! Be willing to look at life from different perspectives. Investigate new ideas. Be willing to step out of your comfort zone. If you notice, CallieCat is not leaving her original box as she investigates a new box. She is merely learning about it, before making any changes. As the saying goes, "Look before you leap!"

3. Think Outside the Box.

The box is the status quo, or the "way things have always been done".  Sometimes, the best answer to a problem can be found outside the box. Trying a different way to proceed, or looking at a project from a new angle, might be the exactly what is needed to have that golden "Aha" moment!

In Conclusion

This blog post is a perfect example of the lessons I have learned from Miss CallieCat.  😻😻😻 Although this blog is generally about following your dreams and trying new endeavors, I am always open to new ways of inspiring you to do just that.

Realizing that I myself can find inspiration from my cat 😺 and a couple of boxes 📦📦 was a little bit of an eye-opener to me.

What Are Your Thoughts?

Have you found inspiration, or interesting insights, in the most unusual places? Have you learned anything from your pets? Are you already an "Outside the Box" thinker who doesn't like to be "Boxed in" by others? Do you have an open mind, and try to stay curious?

I'm curious about your thoughts. Leave me a comment below, and let me know what you think. And always, if you think others might be interested, please share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest!

Embrace Who You Are!

 Do you like who you are? 🤔🤔

I understand that this may be tough to answer, but it is necessary to ask yourself this question every so often. 

Why? Because if you cannot embrace who you are, you cannot really go forward in life. You can exist, but you can't go towards what you really want without some type of inner compass leading the way.  When you know who you are and what you want, you have confidence in yourself.

And according to an affirmation inside my new purse:

EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE

What does this mean to embrace who you are? Let's start by defining what it means to embrace.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, one definition of the word:

 Embrace ~ an act of accepting or supporting something willingly or enthusiastically. 

It is easy to accept something enthusiastically when it is a fun activity, or a new passion. Much, much harder to enthusiastically do the same for yourself.

How to Start Embracing What Makes You, You!

♡♡ Embrace What You Love to Do

    *For myself, I have always loved reading. I cannot remember a time that I didn't. I 

      love this facet of my life. I have learned so much, gained perspective & been made a 

      better person through my reading. 

       (I know that I have truly accepted this. Today, Facebook brought up 5 past "On this 

        day" memories ~ they were all about National Booklover's Day!)

      

A Typical Reading Pile from 
my nightstand!

♡♡ Embrace Your Unique Personality

     *If you love to talk (and can make friends standing in lines even), wonderful! If you           are more reserved & quiet, fantastic! People that are drawn to you appreciate these         qualities in you and will enjoy your company.

♡♡ Embrace Authenticness

    *I am not sure if "authenticness" is a word, but it is now! LOL 🙌  Being authentic is        one of the best things you can be. Whether someone is an unlikable old cuss or a              people person, at least you can appreciate when someone is real. No games, no                messing around, just be yourself! People will either like you or they won't, but at least          you will be true to yourself.

Last Words

I will close with an appropriate quote. I am not quite clear on the origins of this quote, but it is very fitting for our discussion today.

"No matter where you go, there you are." 

EMBRACE WHO YOU ARE! You are unique for a reason! And, at the end of the day, you have to learn to love yourself, because no matter where you go, there you are. 

And as my purse👛 has already stated above: Confidence is your best accessory!