Thanks to those who sent emails of encouragement after my message last week. Moving is a big life event! Despite overwhelm, exhaustion, continued work by the contractor, distractions and new-home hiccups, we’re forging ahead with unpacking and setting up our new home and offices/studio. We know that much IS going well and we are grateful.
 

I mentioned that I would be sharing a story soon about a cardinal we’ve encountered here, but first things first. There were life lessons in the car ride with the two separate loads of cats—our inside-only rescue family and the outside feral colony of five. 

Transport duty for both groups was my responsibility and I wouldn’t wish that 75-minute ride on anyone, much less to have to do it twice. Even though the drive was exceptionally stressful for them and me (because of how they handled it), I'm glad for the reminders that came as they often do in challenging situations.
 

The inside cats made the trip first, with everyone crying together, until eventually they subsided for a while. Then one cat would start back up with a low moan. Then another would cry. Then the other two would join in. Then the first one would get louder, one, to make sure I could still hear them, and two, because they were now backed by their buddies who had confirmed, “Yes, this is terrible!” That cycle repeated almost the whole way, with each cat chiming in at the appropriate intervals. It was loud and difficult for all. 

I was singing to them, cooing—anything I could think of. I have saved recordings of me singing cat-pleasing lullabies for transporting foster kitties so I don’t have to keep doing it the whole way. It worked well for the last foster bunch, but did absolutely nothing for my own kitties.
 

Thankfully after an hour, they mostly rested in quiet futility for the remainder of the drive. We made it and they are doing good now, after a slow and progressive exposure to the whole house.
 

Gemma aka "Mama" explores my studio/office dormer windows

Gemma is working editor of this blog.

Jenny has had lots of life challenges but she has taken the move in stride.

The outside cats began their relocation adventure with a bait and switch, so who can blame them for taking the drive even worse? I lured them into the garage with wet cat food and while they were eating, one by one I grabbed them by the scruff and quickly removed them from the group so as not to set the others off. We crated them individually in the house and took them out the front door so the ones remaining in the garage were clueless of what was about to happen to them.
 

Our feral family repeated the same patterns during the drive as the inside cats.There was crying, shrieking, panting, low moaning, sometimes in sync, but most of the time disturbingly overlapped—definitely not pleasant accompaniment for a long drive at night. 
 

Same as the others, one or two would start up, they would all grow louder and louder and then gradually subside, only to start up again a few minutes later. The power of influence was audible! 

If one cat was attempting to tell the others they were scared or mad, they apparently succeeded and the next one chimed in to say that the situation was unbearable and everyone else should also keep protesting loudly. 
 

I wanted to drown them out with music in my ear buds, but all of a sudden, I had an idea. If influence was going to determine my sanity (or not) for the next seventy-five minutes at 10pm at night after a very long, physically-draining day, I decided I needed a positive influencer who could speak "cat." Turns out, the internet is full of purring kitties. 
 

I found a playlist on my music app and the first “song” was just what I was looking for, a throaty cat purring loud and long. Through positive influence, I shocked my outside kitties into sudden silence. 

I imagined they must have been thinking, “Who is that?” And maybe contemplated, “Kinda sounds like so-and-so, but I’m not sure." Again, they were all in separate crates and it was dark, so they got quiet to consider having a different response to what was happening, based on what they were hearing.. 

Because if so-and-so was not just okay, but was actually PURRING up a storm, then they must have decided they could suck it up and enjoy the ride, too. 
 

Oh, joyful silence! Oh, magical purr! Oh, wonders of technology!
 

Occasionally one of them would decide to cry again to see if they could rally anyone else who was still not enjoying the adventure. They would let out a wail, which would convince the others to join in, but they subsided much quicker when I raised the volume on my purr-fully positive influencer.
 

The outside kitties are loving the cat house, aka 'Big Cat Lodge" that my husband (and son) built for them. After three days of containment utilizing screened windows and doors for maximum sensory exposure, we released them and they have stayed close. Successful colony move, yay!

Their house is still under construction, too, but it's dry and cozy.

They love the dirt that will eventually be grass and there's a lot of hunting going on. We had a critter in the walls of our home, but that's been resolved. Thanks kitties!

We have a love fest every morning before they are fed. They are not feral to me, except for LJ the black one can still be very difficult to interact with. But we wink at each other a lot!

So the question to you and me: Are we making a joyful noise and inspiring our fellows in a positive way, or are we leading a negative revolution to rally the troops and commiserate with our cohorts? Yikes, I don’t want to be in that second group. 
 

Life and death are in the power of the tongue and though I’m usually careful to speak life and find the gifts, I can also be guilty of being critical and complaining. Sometimes I test the waters by sharing a negative comment to see if anyone else will join in, which would then make me say more on the subject, with more confidence. 
 

Ever tried that with someone who didn’t respond the way you wanted when you were trying to get a big gripe fest going? Maybe instead, they said something like, “I’m sure it’s all going to work out.” 

In other words, they were not going to join in a life-draining conversation. I love those people! That unexpected response wakes me out of my negative stupor and challenges me to hold the situation differently.
 

I have caught myself feeling frustrated about what’s not right yet in the house, and/or what’s not done yet. I have been consumed by boxes and unpacking to the point of missing all the wonder and beauty available for me, too. 

I have complained more than I like to my husband, but I am so thankful he always has the right response. “Every rose has a thorn, but it’s still a rose.” “It will get taken care of.” "It's all going to work itself out." And numerous others.
 

The choice is ours. We can cry out with fear, injustice, indignance, and other forms of lack-based tunnel vision, perpetuating unnecessary riots within our souls and passing that negativity onto others. Or we can assume the best about our circumstances, try on a new perspective, and inspire our friends and family members to also spread hope and a positive outlook. 
 

Today, I will watch for opportunities to purr loudly—to influence and be influenced positively. 
 

Does today's meditation resonate with you? Please share your voice in our FTG Readers Group on Facebook. Your hopes, thoughts and dreams matter to me.

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Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share with a friend.

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To your gifts!

Angela

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Tranquility   36x48  acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. This was a commissioned piece. What can I create for you?!

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