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Cat Behavior 101,  Cats,  Holidays

Gratitude On Thanksgiving When Life Isn’t Purrfect

November 22, 2018 / 23 Comments
If you love cats, sharing makes us purrrr :-)

Gratitude Thanksgiving When Life Isn’t Purrfect. Updated 2020

Who would have ever thought when I posted this two years ago this Thanksgiving would be during a pandemic. I’m leaving the post as is because it shows how precarious life is not only now but ALWAYS. It’s never purrfect. It’s useless to dream about the good old days or when life was normal. All we can do is ride the wave moment by moment knowing it keeps changing from good, bad to good again eventually. Funnily enough, I planned to open a shop for Black Friday. LOL and that didn’t happen AGAIN. I planned a series of new posts but a flurry of dental visits delayed me. It’s always something and I no longer feel guilty about not posting the way I used to. Cat Wisdom 101 is heading into our 10th year and for better or worse, it’s okay. I hope we bring you something of value. There are a bunch of hidden gems in the archives if you poke around.

Wherever you are and whatever you’re doing this holiday season, please know the awfulness will shift and change. Our ancestors have endured far worse; plagues without medicine or even hospitals with no instant communication by phone. Humans are resilient and every generation builds on the previous one. I believe good comes out of bad, always. It’s a tempering that’s painful and a relief once we survive. What makes the journey worth it? Finding the tiny treasures along the way. The nuggets of wisdom, the strength you thought you didn’t have, unexpected kindness, the simple joys. They live in your heart, a purring cat and in nature outside your door.

A heart filled with gratitude is a fuller than a tummy stuffed with pie. May you feel true gratitude and may you be well and stay well.

Your in gratitude,

Layla

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As the old saying goes, if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. I had plans to open my shop in time for Black Friday. So close but it’s not going to happen. I had plans to share my new book (free to subscribers) today as a thank you gift but it’s only 90% done. It would be like serving you a pie that hadn’t browned to to a golden crisp.

What I can give right now is my honest gratitude from my heart. Thanks for reading, visiting, caring, sharing and loving cats.

We live in troubled times when I’m sure many of wish we could be coddled cats. Who wouldn’t love to dive under the covers for a catnap anytime we choose?

That said, for the first time since starting this blog in 2011, I truly believe there is always something to be grateful for. When I launched a GoFundMe for a hurricane ravaged spay/neuter clinic, I felt hopeful. When Panama City turned into a tent city, the news cycle turned to the California fires and donations dwindled, I felt unsupported in the bottomless need requiring time, money and energy. I felt angry that scammers ripped of hundreds of thousands from a Gofundme for a “homeless” man but legitimate fundraisers suffered.

But then something good and unexpected happened. The team from GoFundMe made a donation to my campaign for $500!

It restored my hope and while we’re not near our goal, we could be with a tiny help from you. If you can, thank you. Direct link to campaign Check out their latest posts, photos of their progress and temporary facilities open soon! SpayBay Facebook The team is awesome.

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I had to look back at previous posts for inspiration. Big sigh.. the very first Thanksgiving in 2011 was a A to Z of gratitude. What a bittersweet memories of betrayal of a friend, a loss of a vet and two of my cats.

In 2014 the A to Z list brought smiles of nostalgia and Odin had never looked cuter dancing fa, la, la into fall. I’d share some old Thanksgiving treasures from the vault. May your holiday be bountiful with full bellies and hearts.

Much love always,

Layla, Odin, Nou Nou and Angels since 2011 Coco, Merlin, Radish and Gris Gris, Domino and Clyde.

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Odin, the most polite diner who always everyone to eat first.
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Domino’s first bed at age 7. He was feral until his first Thanksgiving.
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Odin loves turkey. Do NOT give cooked turkey bones to pets!

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What are you most grateful for?

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23 Comments

  • Skeeter and Izzy

    November 26, 2018 at 2:34 PM Reply

    Layla,
    dear friend life is a blessing and always will be no matter the uphill struggles and downward spirals that we all face. I am so blessed and grateful to know each one of you in the way that I do and for every little kitty that I have ever met. I always have so much to be thankful for and try hard to remember that when life craps on me. I am sorry to be so late posting but as you said better late than never. There is always some wonderful thing that we can look for and find to be grateful and thankful for , we just have to open our eyes and hearts to find it. Everyday is Thanksgiving for us!
    Thank you for all that you do even when it doesn’t go as planned or meet some schedule. It will all be as it is meant to be.
    Luvs to all and prayers and Purrs of thanks for all that car so much for the kitties and other animals in this world.
    Luvs
    Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo & the Angels >^..^^..^<~

  • Teddy

    November 24, 2018 at 5:53 AM Reply

    Grateful to have met you so many years ago and followed you through so many changes……life goes on……and carries us in its’ stream. Here’s to a wonderful holiday season for you…….and everyone.

    Hugs, Pam and Teddy too

  • Dalton/Angel-MrJackFreckles/Pipo & Angel-Minko

    November 23, 2018 at 1:22 AM Reply

    I looked at old pictures today…this is the second Thanksgiving with no Minko, and the first with no MJF…so I had a moment of the sads, but them was reminded that I have Pipo and he will be 14 just after Christmas…and I have sweet little messed up Dalton, who is still scared of almost everyone, including my sons…he got brave and came for a tid-bit of cooked turkey while his unfurbro-the-elder stood close to me. I took him for a two mile walk, today, and I was very thankful for my warm coat and gloves:)

    And after dinner I found a lost birthday card from last week, from my best friend! Grateful indeed!

    Warm belated Happy Thanksgiving to you!

  • ellen beck

    November 22, 2018 at 10:24 PM Reply

    Hugs Layla. Mondays to me will always belong to Merlin although you Clyde and other helpers do a great job.
    I am so sorry your best laid intentions fell through and I know how hard you worked on SpayBay. I kept reposting it from yours and several others pages promoting it, I am glad it got some extra oomph. It i tough watching things you know are spoof and with a bit of digging to receive things when resources are sorely needed for legit causes.One day the cosmos will repay their silliness.
    I loved Odin’s feral first Thanksgiving.
    Our inside cats are all getting older… something is happening I cant put my finger on, so have some upcoming vet appointments. Punchy is STILL hanging on. Skin and bones as they do at advanced age, but he sure has enjoyed the turkey juice warmed up special for him. He comes onto the back porch for it, and stays until he has had his fill. He is all cozy in his heated enclosure but always glad for a sunny day although it is cold here.
    Got more visitors as usual during the winter, good meaning folks feed but so often forget fresh water.. I have always suspected that is the draw along with food. Toting frozen and replacing it is a chore,but they like a bit of warm water in the mornings- kinda like having a warm drink when we wake up I guess!
    Anyway I ramble. Life has still been a mess, likely not to clear up for awhile, but I am thankful for many things.
    I hope today find you well, and the days to come.

  • Marjorie Dawson

    November 22, 2018 at 1:42 PM Reply

    I miss Merlin. He was a muse and inspiration BUT I am thankful to have made contact with such a gracious and inspiring cat. I love Odin for being positive and generous, he takes after you, his mum.

    I am thankful I helped sponsor Black Cats Tell all (unlike those who bailed – shame on them) It is still my go to gift for friends. You ar a fearless inspiration to us all and I hope I get to meet you one day.

    • Layla Morgan Wilde

      November 23, 2018 at 4:50 PM Reply

      Marjorie, huge purrs of thanks for your contribution and always having my back xoxox Also for actually reading and not leaving generic blog hopping comments ;-0 We just do what we can. It often feels like a tiny drop in a bucket but drop by drop it gets full. I can’t imagine being at the front lines of a disaster. All those are heroes in my book to not only survive but persevere against odds.

  • Jo Singer

    November 22, 2018 at 9:29 AM Reply

    Have a PAWSOME Thanksgiving. Much love from me, Aki and Edgar Allen Poe. We are missing our two angels, Sir Hubble Pinkerton (the first Thanksgiving without his sweet presence, and his brother, Dr. Hush Puppy. I am so relieved however that they are together again… curled up, purring to each other and staying cozy and warm.

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