Flag Day in the United States of America

Happy Sunday, Readers, we hope you are having the best weekend. 

In the United States of America, we celebrate Flag Day tomorrow. Americans honor and commemorate the adoption of the American flag which occurred on June 14, 1777, as one year earlier independence from Great Britain was declared on July 4, 1776.

Us cats like watching our flag fly in the wind. Looking out the window is one of our most enjoyable pass times. There is so much to see outside - deer, squirrels, birds, dogs on leashes leading humans, and of course, our feral, Grigio. 

This week, we encourage all our readers to reflect on the values of our beautiful country. Think of the brave men and women who have defended it. Our flag is a symbol of freedom, courage, hope, and of course, UNITY. 

Celebrate the purpose and the message - and let's unite with gratitude. 

Have a wonderful week.

Purr & Paw, 🐾

"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

June is "Be Happy Month"!

Hello Readers,

We decided to refer to June as "Be Happy Month". Will you join us in this blessing? Please say YES.

Our mamma was watching a speech the other day and the speaker was talking about how people have become offended so easily lately. There are people we may have even stopped speaking to just because they offended us. The woman told of a story about advice she was given a long time ago. It was something about if someone offends you that you have a choice. To think of the offense like a physical fence. You can take that fence and then carry it around. That forces you to take on that burden. The other choice is to leave that fence there, and just walk away.

How many times do you carry that fence? Or do you just walk away from it?

This story really had us thinking... and brought us to decide that June will be a happy month.

To get us started on the right foot, let's think about the blessings of our relationships.

We all know that relationships take effort and dedication to remain strong. To make our relationships life long ones, we recognize the following elements are key:

Continuous and Candid Communication
Honesty and Trust

No-Judgment Zone Acceptance

Understanding

Laughter

Time

If relationships have these elements, then, there is no way we would carry a fence if one was given. 

We hope we inspire you to nurture your relationships in this way, and that your June is a happy month.

Purr & Paw,
-Stivali. 🐾

Life is partly what we make it, and partly what it is made by the friends we choose. - Tennessee Williams. 

Be a Positive Part of the CommUNITY!

Happy Sunday, Readers, 

We cats are very protective of our mamma, and now there is a study we want to share with all of you that we think is interesting: 

Cats don't avoid strangers who behave badly towards their owners, unlike dogs 

The outcome of the study really surprised us. Cats are always considered standoffish. However, I would like to believe we would protect our mamma from a mean stranger. 

And this got us thinking, what are we doing on the daily to protect our neighbors? Protect the community we live in? There is so much going on in the world, and a lot of it is ugly. 

It seems to us being neighborly is a thing of the past, and I would like us to reenergize that sense of community. You can join us by doing something anonymously for a neighbor in need, or by volunteering and joining a local organization. Community groups are a great way to connect with neighbors and they empower us to make a difference in our world.

Here are some ideas, if you want to do something nice for a neighbor this spring:

• Give them a call and check in. 
• Bring over a baked good or a home cooked meal.
• Offer to run an errand for them.
• Bring them flowers, or plant some for them.
• Next time you are heading to the store, ask them if they need anything.
• Take in their garbage pails. 
• Shop at local businesses (supporting local is supporting your neighbor, and you can always pick up something for your neighbor there!). 

Pasqua demonstrates community outreach! 😸

Have fun doing something nice for your neighbor and please share what nice things your neighbors have done for you.

If you missed mamma's premiere of her read aloud children's book, check it out here: SuperCat Kismet

Have a blessed week!

Purr & Paw, 

-Stivali. 🐾

The purpose of life is to listen - to yourself, to your neighbor, to your world and to God and, when the time comes, to respond in as helpful a way as you can find. - Fred Rogers.

Seven Principles by Dr. Maulana Karenga

Happy Sunday, Readers! Today we focus on the principle of self-determination, in honor of Kwanzaa which began yesterday and is celebrated until Friday, January 1.

This cultural celebration was created in 1966 and is based on African heritage and traditional African harvest festivals. Its name is from the Swahili phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which translates to "first fruits". 

Kwanzaa is not a religious holiday, but is a celebration of family, life, and unity. It has a similarity to Hanukkah, with the tradition of lighting candles over several nights. Each day of Kwanzaa highlights a different principle outlined by Dr Maulana Karenga:

Unity in family, community, nation, and race.

Self-determination 

Collective Work and Responsibility to build / maintain community and solve problems together.

Cooperative Economics to build /maintain businesses and to profit from them.

Purpose a collective vocation of building / developing community.

Creativity to always do as much as we can to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

Faith to believe in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle.

What do you think of today's principle self-determination? This can be defined as the process by which a person controls their own life. Our ability to make choices and manage our own life impacts our psychological health and well-being (as well as how we contribute to our family and community). How do you define yourself? How do you create for yourself? How do you speak for yourself?

Changing your life starts with changing our thoughts. What you tell yourself defines who you are. Each of these principles are helpful to all of us in creating action and mantras for a better life.  Imagine what the best possible version of yourself is. Reaffirm your worth - that you are strong, capable, and your life will be filled with the joy. 

Each day this week, reflect on one of the principles and believe that you deserve wonderful things. Know that you can and will accomplish what you set out to do in life, after all, you are the master of your mind. 

Have a blessed week, and if you are interested to learn more about this beautiful celebration click: Kwanzaa - HISTORY

Purr & Paw,

-Stivali. 🐾

If you have a purpose in which you can believe, there’s no end to the amount of things you can accomplish. - Marian Anderson.