These three get me through. Work has been rough the last month, and knowing that when I go home one of these guys will greet me like I'm the best thing that's happened that day makes the evenings and days off better.
Being bipolar, I've learned emotional management techniques to succeed in life. I've swung from feeling EVERYTHING to an intense level and letting my feelings dictate my actions to the opposite end of the spectrum - keeping everything completely separate from logic and bottling up the emotions. The last couple of years have been a journey to the center-ish of that spectrum. I'm closer to a healthy mix than I ever have been.
These three have been an amazing part of that growth. Turtle the calico curls up next to me and purrs if I sit still long enough. Thor eats my sandwich, chews my silicone straws, keeps me on a feeding schedule, and reminds me to admire his majestic presence rather than drown in my emotions. Blue makes me take walks and prompts laughter by bringing me cardboard boxes to tear apart together. Yes, he really senses when I'm getting too deep in feelings and finds things to make me laugh.
These guys keep me grounded and are helping me process emotions in a more mindful way. I get to practice noticing emotions, naming them, and watching the emotion. The issues at work are a challenge for this healthier version of me. It's also a time for reflection on progress. 2009 me would not have made it into the job I have today without the growth. 2014 me only dreamed of handling situations with control, wisdom, and an eye for strategy and the end goal. 2024 me is looking forward to navigating my current pursuits to successful conclusions and showing childhood me that she's loved, strong, capable, and does some really cool stuff. And she gets to hang out with three awesome animals that love her.
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