More life lessons from Dunkin’

My dear little cat Dunkin has a tenacious way of getting her needs met. When she wants attention she will not give up pestering us for head rubs or one on one play with her. And she does it in such ways that it is difficult not to give her that badly needed attention.

It occurs to me that Dunkin is not unlike other aspects of life that reach out and grab hold in need of my attention. I am however not always so readily willing to provide my attention to what is reaching for it. And generally when this happens life does not go so well.

This includes when Dunkin has needs that get ignored for longer than she wants them too—I get to pick up things she pushes off counters or tables or might even get a finger bit.

Probably since I was injured as a preteen doing hand stands in the front yard, I have had a habit of raising my right shoulder blade. I didn’t even realize I was doing that until this year when the osteophyte in my spine began causing me pain in my upper back, neck and right shoulder area, my hand started briefly going numb and I lost strength in that hand.

I’ve been doing physical therapy for months working out the kinks and training my muscles to hold my posture in ways that help rather than hurt me. I am also having that shoulder taped down to help remind me and train those muscles to not hike upwards. I like to boast I’ve found a new use for duck tape—I just have to find humor in life!

It is not easy altering years and years of habits.

Just recently I’ve wondered if part of my shoulder raising habit has been in reaction to stress as well. I think I am accurate because my intentional practice of taking breaths during the day, relaxing and noticing muscle tension have helped improve that neck, back and shoulder of mine.

Pain has a way of getting our attention in ways that is harder to ignore.

As I look backwards, I can see there have been other signals to me suggesting I needed to better learn to relax my mind and body that I have ignored over the years.

It is generally a pleasant experience playing or loving up Dunkin once I submit to her need. It certainly is better when I recognize my own unmet need and give it to myself. When I don’t pay up attention it costs me in the long run.

Dear little Dunkin I am learning so much from living live with you! Who would have thought!

What helps you pay up attention to your unmet needs?