One day I received a call from a friend asking me if I would like a kitten. My initial response was no, as I am not a cat person and have never had cats. She said she didn’t have anyone else to give the kitten too and just couldn't give her the care she needed. So I said I will come see the kitten, feel her out and decide. I went to her house, saw the kitten, and went back home to think about it. Finally with a little pressure from my friend I resistantly went to pick up this kitten. It was a battle, the kitten, named Frida ended up getting a kidney infection and was very stubborn and head strong. She wouldn’t listen to me and wanted to do her own thing. She tore down the screen in my back window to get out of the house. When I would open my living room window she would jump out. I would spray her with water to try and stop this behavior. It didn’t work. She would look at me, look at the window, look at the spray bottle than make her decision to jump out. She wore me out. Fighting and trying to get her to stay in the house. I had so many fears of her getting fleas and bringing them into the house, getting hit by a car, getting pregnant. All the fears of a typical mother. Well, if I was to look in the mirror she was my reflection. But now I see me in her. It’s true that pets take on characteristics of there owners. Realizing this helped me to relax and let go. I began to accept Frida. I was trying to control her and put a leash on her and that is not what she wanted. She wanted and needed the freedom to do what she wanted. Her very nature is independence. I began to notice she would go into the garden in the back and sit in nature, one of the things I enjoy doing. She would never wander too far from the house, she would mostly sit near the trees and people watch.
One of the things that made me keep her, was Frida’s loving personality. She would follow me around the house, whether I was in the living room, kitchen, bathroom or bedroom she would come. She would greet me at the door when I arrived home and rub her face on my foot. She gave so much love. Whenever I had guests she would greet them with open arms and show them love as well. Indeed she is as social and loving as I.
Lessons from Frida: She has taught me how to love unconditionally. She loves the many people who comes to my home and that doesn’t take away from the love she has to offer me. Many have this fear that if their partner is open and loving of others that will diminish the love the partner could offer them. This is not true. This is one of the lessons she has taught me. I accept her no matter what. I accept her challenges, when she is stubborn, when she is loving, all of her. That is unconditional love. She has taught me the true meaning of freedom. To be able to live without fears. To be able to connect with nature. When you love someone, you do not try to control them or keep them locked up. You allow them to be. Most importantly as a reflection of me she has taught me to love me!
