Why Are They Called Pussycats?

“Most of the time we don’t even pay attention to the depth of life. We only see flat surfaces.” -Anonymous

I recently adopted a cat. It’s an indoor cat yet I wonder if it sometimes wants fresh air and an evening stroll down the block. I did some research and learned that animal welfare organizations do NOT recommend letting your cat become an outdoor cat. Outdoor cats have a life expectancy of 2 years while indoor cats live an average of 12-16 years. Surely there are benefits to the beauty of the outdoors but cats in such an environment are exposed to many dangers.

Just like cats, there are “indoor humans” and “outdoor humans.” An indoor human is one who enjoys a comfortable and balanced existence with a healthy sense of mind, body, and spirit. Meanwhile, an outdoor human is uncomfortable in their body, has little control of their mind, and is exhausted by a tired spirit. Yes there is immense beauty and refreshment in the great outdoors. But for the sake of this article, “going indoors” implies sinking into the depth of your being and finding protection from the emotions, chaos, and stress boiling at the surface of life.

Are you an indoor human or an outdoor human? Take the test:

“Indoor humans” experience the following:

1. Body

"The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in." ~B.K.S. Iyengar

An “indoor human” enjoys basic mobility of the spine and some flexibility in the muscles and joints. You can move without issues. Your body is the soul’s instrument rather than the soul’s prison.

2. Mind

“Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.” -Eleanor Roosevelt

An “indoor human” knows something about harnessing the mind. If you think of your mind as a high-tech sports car, can you stay on the road or is the car just too much for you? One who can drive the mind can soothe the mind with a deep breath. One who can drive the mind can stay on the road by learning to stay in the present moment. One who can drive the mind can utilize the mind’s immense “horsepower” by exercising the imagination.

3. Spirit

“Laughter is the spark of the soul.” -Anonymous

As you’d rig a sail to capture wind, an “indoor human” opens the mind and relaxes the body to capture bliss. A vibrant spirit feels pleasure in the simplest moments.


Meanwhile, “outdoor humans” experience the following:

1. Body

“Tension is who you think you should be. Relxation is who you are.”-Chinese proverb

An “outdoor human” feels locked out of a body downtrodden with tension. A little stretching and relaxation is the key to unlocking the body.

2. Mind

“I put my heart and my soul into my work, and have lost my mind in the process.” Van Gogh

An “outdoor human” struggles to harness a mind constantly bouncing around from thought to thought. One can begin to focus the mind by finding a passion and embracing that passion with blood, sweat and tears.

3. Spirit

“He that loseth wealth, loseth much; he that loseth friends, loseth more; but he that loseth his spirit loseth all.” Spanish proverb

An "outdoor human" feels a chronic sense of exhaustion and boredom caused by a spirit lacking inspiration. To heal a tired soul, eat more sweet potato fries from Father's Office in Santa Monica, CA.

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