Merriam-Webster defines a best friend as "the closest and dearest friend, excelling all others," but it doesn't say anything about needing to be human. My best friend just so happens to be a cat.
In the summer of 2012, I graduated from eighth grade, and after making a persuasive flip-book for my parents, I got my first cat. Throughout the year, I had been volunteering my weekdays at a local shelter and a crabby kitty who had been there since I started caught my attention. His name is Cagney, and even though in the past four years he’s given me tough love, he’s taught me how small acts of kindness can give a sense of significance and love.
Upon entering high school, depression and anxiety hit me like a truck, and I separated myself from friends and family. I stopped doing well in school, I didn't leave the house. I became a shut-in who couldn't find a purpose for living. I was trapped by my own misconceived pointlessness, and I felt so alone. Despite thinking that no one wanted me around, I got up every morning because Cagney had basic needs. He depended on me to feed him, clean his litter box, and patch up his wounds from neighborhood cat-bullies. He loved me for these minor things and cuddled me to prove it. In the moments I felt most empty and alone, his motor-like purring soothed me back to reality and reminded me of my importance. I started volunteering and getting out of the house again because my cat proved to me that minor actions could make a difference in many lives. I found self-worth by making cats purr or getting someone to smile. I found a new appreciation for the little things in life. I found another cat in the process and fell in love all over again. Now I'm a proud cat mom of two, and my precious babies taught me that no matter how small the action is, someone will appreciate it. It might sound dumb, but my cats truly did teach me how to love and value myself. Everyone has importance, even in their weakest moments. Find the thing that reminds you of this and I promise your life will change for the better.
"I would rather walk with a friend in the dark, than alone in the light." - Helen Keller
