Trust. Try something New. And take up a little more room!
Well, she’s still here…and she is still running the show! 
Yes, I’m talking about Maya, one of my two beloved, spoiled, gorgeous and adorable Maine Coon cats!
Over 19 months ago, Maya’s health was failing and we received the news that her condition was terminal. The vet said, we would be lucky if we got two more weeks of borrowed time, with our gorgeous furry gem. I was devastated beyond words. She and her brother, Deezil are my fur-babies, the recipients of so much love and the giver’s of even more love in return. They are ten years old and I’ve literally spent a decade loving these two over-sized, overly-spoiled, adorable, almost-human, 15 and 20 pounds (respectively) of pure joy! You can read more about those heart-wrenching yet joyful moments here: Borrowed Time
However, sometimes life, God or the Universe have different plans! Sometimes, things happen that there’s no explanation for. Sometimes love wins and sometimes prayers are answered. This is one of those times!
I spoke with the vet countless times back then. When Maya got sick and we were told she had, ‘maybe a few days’ and ‘two weeks, at best’, I asked a million questions back then – to myself, to God and to the vets. ‘When?” “Why?” and “Is there anything we can do?” were just a few. I asked the same questions for several months, with worry and anxiety ever-present in my mind and heart. One day, I simply stopped asking. It was awkward at first because I didn’t want to forget that we were on borrowed time and that our time with Maya may be limited but I also realized that living in that state was not healthy for any of us. Really, I think I stopped asking because I started trusting in what I saw and felt with Maya. She is one feisty, brave, courageous, strong-willed, loyal and remarkable feline and she wasn’t going anywhere! She appeared to get stronger and stronger, cancer and all.
It makes me wonder, “Where else in my life could I stop asking…and start trusting?” How about you? What could happen if we started trusting a little more?
When Maya got sick, she declined rapidly to the point where I would have to pull her out from behind the washing machine where she was curled up, wasting away, and force her to eat warmed food and have a few treats. I could feel her leaving us, even though, I felt somewhere inside that she didn’t really want to go. That feeling was so real and powerful for me. She did not want to go. She was not ready to go. I knew I certainly was not ready for her to be going anywhere!
We took her to the vet and they kept her overnight to diagnose the problem, give her fluids and see what they could do. The vet said, as night fell and I called to ask for an update, that she had cancer and there was nothing that could be done. “She may have a few days left, at most.” The vet wanted to keep her overnight though and I agreed, reluctantly. The next morning, when I called, a new vet was on shift and asked to keep Maya until noon and that, she was “going to try something new, just to see what might happen. Maybe we will get a week or two.”. I said, OK and was there at 12:00pm to pick her up. The vet gave her a steroid injection, something not typically used to treat cancer, but thought it might jolt her immune system into responding. “There was nothing to lose, everything to gain”, she said.
We spent those first couple weeks on a roller coaster of emotion. Well, I did, but Maya seemed to perk up a bit and nearing the end of the two weeks, seemed more alive than she’d been in months. I called the vet and asked what we should do now. I think the vet was surprised she was still with us! She said, bring her in again for another steroid shot. And here we are today. This has been our journey for the past 19 months. Maya goes to get a steroid shot every month and is thriving! She’s thriving and literally, running the show!
So often, I find myself silently giving thanks to the vet who came in on that morning shift, long ago when Maya was in her most fragile moments. Her action and idea to “try something new, to see what might happen” are nothing short of a miracle in my eyes along with the fact that it was her morning shift that day. I have no idea what would have happened if she had that day off! What I do know is that – in life, perhaps we could try something new, instead of doing what we’ve always done.
What could happen if we acted upon those flashes of insight – when a fleeting idea or thought passes through our minds – even though they may be contrary to our past experience or education? What sort of difference could that make in our own lives? In the lives of others? Heck – what sort of difference could that make in the world?
We’ll never know – unless we try!
What I know for sure, over the past 19 months, is that while life is fragile and fleeting, the human spirit, or perhaps, the feline spirit is powerful beyond measure! The power of love between beings, the will to survive (and thrive) and the miracles that can take place on any random morning are remarkable forces in our world. Undeniable forces in my world. And in yours, too, I’m certain.
Believe in the power of love and that love can change the world! Believe in to the possibility that we all have a much greater strength and will to survive and thrive – we just have to tap into that power. And lastly, believe in the presence of miracles that can, and do, happen every day!
My greatest teachers are the loved ones in my life (including the 4-legged variety) along with books, experiences, conversations, observations and all sorts of influences. One thing I have learned from Maya, especially this past year, is that we all could take up a little more room.
Yes – you read that correctly! Take up a little more room! Be brave, bold, courageous and demand what you deserve. The world around will cheer from the sidelines when you take up a little more room in life, let your light shine and express all the greatness within you! If the people around you are not cheering from the sidelines as you shine brightly, they’re not your people. Go find your people! Surround yourself with those that encourage you to shine brighter than you ever imagined, and who make room for you to take more room in this amazing world!
Like in the above photos recently taken (mostly when I’m speaking/teaching virtual programs, the Zoom-bombers make an appearance and take up a lot of room:
- Be comfortable – Inside yourself and where ever you find yourself. And find somewhere warm to sleep when ever possible – even if it’s on a laptop.
- Lean on those you love. You have no idea how much they’ll appreciate your warmth and you never know…you just might be holding them up at the same time!
- Live with wide-eyed gratitude, joy and enthusiasm for every moment. Life is often a reflection of our own perceptions and expectations. What we experience in life is often a reflection of what we are giving out to the world. Gratitude for each and every day we are alive can create a very different experience in life.
As 2022 continues to unfold, trust in yourself. Be willing to try something new. And take up a little more room! This could be our best year yet! Like Maya, you’re here…so run your show! The world needs you…and it’s waiting!
Special thanks to Mission Creek Animal Hospital and Fairfield Animal Hospital for your expertise, kindness and for the miracles you perform every day. Special thanks to Magnolia, as well, from Better Bodies And Minds because Maya receives biomagnetic pair therapy treatments every couple of months from Magnolia and I’m certain that these treatments are helping Maya to thrive! Biomagnetic pair therapy is known to treat everything from cancer to Lyme and all sorts of bodily and emotional imbalances. FInd out more about Magnolia and biomagnetic pair therapy here: https://www.facebook.com/magnotherapy/
If you would like to make 2022 your best year yet, but are not sure how to do that, please inquire about a 2-call coaching infusion that will, most certainly, help make this year your very best yet!
Crystal Flaman is an international keynote speaker and social entrepreneur, inspiring you to discover your dreams and the difference you can create in the world. Anything is possible. Everything is possible. Believe in your dreams. Do what you love and be fearlessly you.
If you would like to learn more information about this topic or to have Crystal share this message with your team, in person or on a virtual platform, please contact Crystal. Thank you. crystal@inspiringsuccess.ca
