My cat and I have a lot in common.  This year we’ve both undergone significant changes in our lives.  We’ve gone from environments that were comfortable and stale, into something new that has brought out the best in us.

When I moved house recently I knew it would be difficult for my cat to adjust.  She’d lived in one house for over 10 years.  She knew the neighborhood well, slept most of the day and had the odd skirmish through the fence with “Fluffy”, the cat next door.

She was a little hesitant in her new environment at first but now has her killer instinct back.  She’s doing what cats do best – being active in the early hours, stalking small birds, and pouncing on skinks and insects.  She’s even started sizing up the larger birdlife (ducks and Pukekos) although she hasn’t taken any of them on yet.  The change in her has been incredible – watching her go from an environment that was easy and stagnant to one that has challenged and invigorated her.

I worked for one company for almost 10 years where I became comfortable and stale.  The role no longer challenged me and I had stagnated in my career.  I knew the job well and could navigate the corporate red-tape.  Like my cat, I also had the odd skirmish through the fence with co-workers on other teams.

My transition is taking a little longer but I’m getting there in a supportive environment that gives me freedom to do my job as I feel it needs to be done.  I have meaningful work and a manager who appreciates me. This has really boosted my confidence, although I still have some way to go to get back to my courageous self. I’m thriving with a regular routine of commuting, work, food and exercise. I’m not at the “stalking and pouncing” stage yet, but its only a matter of time until I have my killer instinct back too.

Photo: My cat in hunter-mode.