Our Pursuit of Happiness OR My Cats are BIG Game Hunters

A little over a year ago we got our two cats, Chili and Pepper.  Named, of course, after one of my favorite bands, the Red Hot Chili Peppers.  I told Mark we needed barn cats now that we are in the country to capture rats, lizards and other unwanted creatures.  “ Needing” barn cats was very true, the other truth is I really like cats and wanted them.  We got these specific two because they had been found in a field without their mama only a few weeks old and a friend was fostering them.  This friend told me that they would be excellent hunters because they had been “practicing”.  Practicing meant that they were given the opportunity to actively play and “capture” toy mice and things.  They were so little and so cute that when we brought them home, I didn’t want them to be out and about.  Mark agreed, as he was worried about night wildlife in the area getting them.  While he will be the first one to say “I hate cats” in his grumpy grandpa voice, the other truth about our cats is that he loves them.  During the time that they were in the house all the time, they continued to play with their toys and bounce around as kittens do, but I wasn’t sure how this might translate into being good hunters.  Was I stunting their growth in this area because I didn’t let them out right away to learn about their home and the surroundings?  When Chili and Pepper were about 6 months old, there was no holding them back; they practically begged to get outside.  I relented and since that time their routine is that they go outside first thing after all the dogs are fed and spent the day doing cat things around the property and then almost like clockwork they show up at the door to be let in for the night.  (Mark is still concerned about critters getting them. “I hate cats”….sure buddy).  We now have some data and research as to whether or not these cats are good hunters.  The results are a resounding yes!!  Not a day has gone by that, each or together, don’t catch a lizard, bird or snake.  Every day!!!  Lizards seem to be their easiest catch but each day something is caught.  What does any of this long story have to do with happiness?  Well, I’ve been listening to a podcast recently called The Happiness Lab by Dr. Laurie Santos with Yale University on the science of happiness and I believe my hunting cats are a great example of some of the principles of which Dr. Santos speaks.  I’m not going into her discussions as I think you should listen to her and she speaks much more eloquently on the subject and I don’t want to get sued for plagiarism.  Research indicates that more stuff isn’t the indicator of predictive happiness.  Happiness can be gained through practice.  Practice of purpose and gratitude.  When we are living for a purpose and pursuing that purpose we tend to be happier because we are of service to others and we have our “why”.  When we are grateful for the permanent things we have such as relationships, health, experiences rather than chasing after more “stuff” we tend to be happier.  Mark and I have certainly found that our pursuit of happiness does land in the simple things.   Our purpose, we believe, is to be of service to others, our family and our community.  We have found that getting new “stuff” is fun and causes feelings of happiness in the moment but lasting happiness is something that isn’t going to occur with new things, it’s the everyday practice of purpose and gratitude.  My cats get to live out their purpose every day, they do it well and I’d like to think they are happy.