Zen Cats and the Hum of the Machine Redux

I first noticed the Zen cats many years ago in Seattle and have seen them in Cincinnati, Houston, and now Lexington. They're everywhere and I enjoy imagining what's going on inside these felines' heads as they pause to take in the day. 

Have you noticed that outdoor cats sit in Zen-like poses the hour before sunset? They look like they are contemplating their world and soaking in the rhythms of the day. We have been walking Hazel, the dog at this time of day recently and we often pass several Zen cats within one block. They sit, crouch and lie still and never flinch when our big goofy pointer-mix walks by. Seems like such a peaceful way to usher in the night.

Do you ever do this? The cat thing, not the Hazel thing. I have.

The hum of our workspace - even for indie workers - is provocative and evocative. We click and clack as we process the day. The air compressor whirs, printer rollers jerk and push, emails ping, and keystrokes tap out a staccato melody. People moving in and out of rooms generate wind and sometimes drama. Coffee brewing beckons the weary eyes and minds. Drawers that open and close are symbols of our progress. Chairs creak. People adjust paper stacks. White board markers glide and squeak. Sighs and yawns wave through the workplace.

The morning crescendos toward the lunchtime intermission. Then a lull. Then the sounds of hope and relief.

I love the day's music. And when it's done I sit still like a Zen cat, taking in and making meaning of the day. Time is a fuzzy thing and I am sometimes lonely in it. Separate, observing from the outside. It's a privilege to take in and exhale out each tiny detail of life.

I once had an Apache guide tell me that pow wows were important because the earth needs to hear its people’s songs. Our homes and workspaces have songs, too. If you've worked in more than one company, you may have noticed striking differences in how workplaces sound – the cadences, the diversity and types of noises, the overall melody and tune of the place.

You might be thinking that I'm being a bit anthropomorphic. That the cats are just relaxing before their evening hunt.

Perhaps. Does it matter if it helps?

I choose to be my version of a Zen cat every now and then because it's relaxing, stimulating, spooky, and peaceful at the same time. I also think it's a good idea to not get excited by every goofy dog that walks by. Dale Carnegie was quoted as saying that 99% of our worries don't come true. The Zen cats get this, I think.