Kindness

  SMALL ACT OF KINDNESS.

I was walking home from school one day when I noticed a small, black cat slinking along the street. It wasn’t the first cat I’d seen, as cats were quite common in the neighborhood, but this one stood out. Its movements weren’t erratic; it moved with a purpose, its eyes darting from side to side, seeming to take in its surroundings.

Curious, I watched it for a bit, intrigued by its behavior, and that’s when I noticed the particular way it was looking at me. It wasn’t with indifference or fear, as other cats often do, but with an intent, almost demanding gaze. I stared back. We stood there for a moment, the cat and I, before it broke away and continued on its way. I wasn’t sure what to make of it, but I followed it. I kept a fair distance but still stayed close enough to keep an eye on the feline and saw that it was a male.

He led me down a path I had never taken before. We wandered through old, forgotten streets and alleys. I kept expecting it to turn off somewhere, but it never did. The cat seemed to know exactly where it was going. After a while, I recognized some sights and realized that it was leading me home.

My apartment building was in a run-down part of town, and I’m a young nineteen-year-old girl, so I was always on the lookout for potential danger. But the cat, while skittish, seemed to lead me away from any potential trouble. I followed him up the stairs and through the main entrance. He stopped at my door and mewed, as if to say goodbye. I thanked him and opened the door, and before I could even turn around, it was gone.

The next day, I was back at school. But my mind was still on the strange cat. I hadn’t seen anything like it before, and I couldn’t help but wonder where he had come from.

I was so lost in thought that I didn’t even notice when I arrived at the school. As soon as I stepped foot inside, however, I heard a familiar meow. I spun around and there, sitting in the middle of the hallway, was the same cat from the day before.

He meowed again, and I knew immediately what he wanted. He wanted me to go with him. Intrigued, I grabbed my bag and said yes. I grabbed my bag and followed the cat out of the building, not knowing where he would take me. We walked through the streets for what felt like hours, finally stopping at an old abandoned building. My heart was racing as I peered into the dark doorway, but when I looked down the cat had already gone inside.

I cautiously stepped into the darkness and heard a chorus of meows that echoed off the walls. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized that there were dozens of cats living in this old building, all living together in harmony. I was astonished to see such a large group of cats in one place.

The cat from before rubbed against my leg and then began walking through the small passages between the kittens and cats. It seemed to lead me somewhere special. We made our way up a few flights of stairs until we reached a room on the top floor. The cat pushed open a door with his paw and revealed an even larger space filled with blankets, toys and food bowls- a makeshift kitty playground!

There were kittens playing with toys while others snuggled up together on warm blankets and pillows. Some were even taking naps on what appeared to be textbooks.

I couldn't believe what I was witnessing; these cats had created a safe haven where they could play, sleep, and learn together. I felt myself beginning to tear up as my heart filled with admiration for these brave and resourceful creatures.

The cat from before-whom I named Blackie- sat next to me, contentedly washing his face as if he wanted me to understand something important about these stray cats: that even though they are often seen as pests or nuisances, they can still do extraordinary things when given half a chance. That’s why it seemed so intent on leading me here, so that I could see this hidden miracle first hand.

Blackie rubbed against my leg again, making me think he wanted me to stay with them, but I knew that soon enough I would have to go back to the busy streets outside. So I told the cats goodbye and thanked them for allowing me into their special world.

As I walked away from the building, something inside me felt different. Despite their precarious living situations, these cats still found ways of joyfully going about life—reminding me that no matter how bad a situation might seem, there was always hope if you looked hard enough.

With determination and motivation, I decided then and there that I would do everything to aid them.

***

As soon as I got home, I began researching rescues and shelters nearby while also reaching out to friends, family, and colleagues to see if they had any contacts who might be interested in helping. The response was overwhelmingly positive and soon enough I had multiple offers of people willing to support the cause and some even offering money or food donations.

I returned later that day with a truck full of supplies purchased with the generous donations from those who supported the cats’ cause. As we unloaded it all into the makeshift kitty playground, it was almost like seeing a dream come true- these cats were finally going to have all the necessities they needed for a comfortable life.

The kittens ran around with new toys in hand while others curled up on soft blankets for naps or licked their food bowl clean before running off to explore again. It was impossible not to smile as I looked around at each happy cat's face.

As evening began its descent upon us, we loaded up our things and said our goodbyes. With one last look around at all the furry faces now playing happily with one another.

Although the future of the stray cats was still uncertain, this small act of kindness had given them more hope - something that no one could ever take away from them. And I couldn't help but feel proud that I took part in it.

I feel sad that Blackie didn't approach me, but as soon as all volunteers went back, Blackie stepped out of the crowd of cats and seemed to smile at me. He sauntered to me and rubbed his head on my leg. "There you are," I said, putting my hand between perky ears. He purred, and I smiled.

I walked back home with him with my heart filled with excitement for the future.

And somehow, after this experience they had given me the courage to bravely pursue my dream of being one of the best vet in the country.

Live and Dare

 

Stress is an inevitable part of our everyday lives. A little bit can be positive, but too much stress takes a toll on the body and mind.

The goal isn’t to eliminate stress (that would be impossible) but rather to reduce it where possible and take time to recover from the stressors of daily life.

Take a minute (often)

“Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths.” — Etty Hillesum

When life gets busy, there can be a snowball effect. Busyness begets busyness. And if we don’t take some time every day to interrupt the “snowball” from rolling, it gets bigger, faster, and harder to stop, leading to burning out or, to keep with the snowball analogy, crashing into a wall. This is prevented by regularly and intentionally pausing and taking time for yourself (even just a minute).

Build awareness

Regularly acknowledge how much you do and how much that requires of your body, mind, and heart. Deepening our awareness of how stress impacts our wellbeing can motivate us to interrupt the stress cycle and prioritize rejuvenation.

Set boundaries

Time is a limited and precious resource, so we feel best when we spend it wisely. Boundaries support us to choose meaningful priorities and let go of the things that don’t provide nourishment. To create a boundary that supports you, start with a value you have; from there, determine what you need to make that value possible and then determine how you can honor that need.

Bring ease into your effort

The tricky thing about stress is that it impacts the body’s ability to effectively do its job. For example, you might choose to eat a healthy lunch, but if you’re eating it while stressed (perhaps feeling like you don’t have time to eat and that you should be working), the body won’t be able to digest and absorb all of the amazing nutrients that you consumed.2

What causes stress in college students?

According to the American College Health Association (ACHA), 44.9% of college students experience more than average stress levels, while 12.7% experience overwhelming stress levels. With so many academic demands and responsibilities as a student, it’s expected that you might feel high levels of stress from time to time. But, when stress disrupts daily activities, you need to determine the cause of your stress and how to manage it.

Stress management tips for college students

1. Get proper rest and sleep

Many college students pull all-nighters, studying through the night to prepare for an exam, but this type of habit can lead to sleep deprivation and insomnia. 

Depriving your body of sleep can lower cognitive function, academic performance, and mental health. If you have trouble sleeping at night, try techniques such as avoiding excess caffeine, turning down the lights, or putting away technology at least one hour before bed.

2. Focus on health and nutrition

When you pair the freedom to choose what and when along with academic stress, college students are more likely to cope by overeating or undereating. Developing good habits like eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep can help manage stress and prevent dramatic weight loss or weight gain.

3. Be active

If you’re having trouble getting motivated to be active, try inviting a friend, changing up your routine, or exercising in short-time intervals. Adding just 15 minutes of physical activity to your daily routine can help your physical and mental health.

4. Have a stress outlet

Having a healthy outlet to turn to in times of stress can help calm your mind and clarify how to move forward in a stressful situation. Things like a hobby, social club, or physical exercise can all be outlets for relieving stress.

5. Find connections

The Mayo Clinic says that “social isolation and loneliness are associated with a greater risk of poor mental health and poor cardiovascular health, as well as other health problems.” College is a great time to make new friends. Joining a club or organization, talking to classmates, volunteering, or being on an intramural sports team can help create connections on and off-campus.