A Kitten Figured Out What I needed Before I Did

10 years ago this weekend, I met one of my best friends. We drove to North Melbourne that day and entered a U shaped room. We walked around it two or three times, peering into the cages full of lost kittens and cats.

I never thought I'd get a black cat, but sometimes you get chosen.

I'd had my eye on him just a little, but by the third walk around, "Scamper" as he was known back then, was up on the side of the cage miaowing towards me.

I told the staff I'd like to hold him, and he immediately started purring in my arms.

He was 4 months old and had been brought in from the streets with cat flu. We took him home, and life became so sweet with little Pickles, as we named him.

Teeny back then!

Reflecting on our relationship today, here's what came up:

1. He taught me to slow down.

Every day I'd get home from work, ready to hit my chores or cook dinner and he'd force me to sit down or lie on the bed so he could sit on my lap and relax.

2. He has seen it all.

I always look at him and know he's seen everything in my home – every night feed, every argument, every nuance.

3. He is very annoying and also loves me unconditionally.

Every morning, he still tries to sit in front of my laptop while I work, every morning he still miaows the second I get up to be fed (or scratches my feet to wake me if I sleep in too much).

I love you, Pickles (as he snakes through my legs right now).

Here's what I also reflected on: A kitten figured out what I needed before I did.

In 2016, I was overwhelmed, always busy, unable to sit down... I remember it well. Pickles made me stop every single day, even when I was resisting.

My clients often tell me they know they need to slow down, but they can't. They wait until they're sick or burnt out.

What if you didn't wait?

If you want to have a life where slowing down isn't something your body forces you to do, but something you know how to choose more easily – I have 1:1 coaching spots opening in February. Here are the details. x