"Homer’s Odyssey":Story of A Blind Cat That Inspires:Can Pets Lead You To Success And Happiness?
Posted: Monday, January 10, 2011
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
My friend, Di chose “Homer’s Odyssey” by Gwen Cooper for our book club reading this month. Even though I have two beloved pets, I wasn’t sure I would enjoy reading a book about a cat. However, not only did I read it, I loved it.
The story begins when a Veterinarian asked Gwen if she was interested in adopting a four-week old stray kitten who was blind. As much as she tried to resist, she ended up saying “yes.” It was a bad time in the life of this young single woman. She had just broken up with her boyfriend, had a low-paying job plus she already had 2 cats. This story isn’t just about a cat’s habits and how they play, etc. This is about Gwen Cooper getting her life back on track and reaching her goals by following the example of this brave cat. Although Homer could not see, he always found a way to get around and do extraordinary things (for a blind cat).
Can animals teach us about life? I would say without hesitation, “yes.” The most obvious clue that any pet owner would agree with would be “unconditional love” that they give. They don’t care about your physical appearance, financial situation or your status in the community. They just give themselves wholly to you and your well-being and safety. They will forgive you hundreds of times. They have such a big heart.
Having A Pet Means Having A Healthy Heart
Yes, they have such a big heart that it seems ironic that they can actually help your heart. Research has shown that owning a dog or cat for a long time can protect your heart health. In one 20-year study, people who never owned a cat were 40% more likely to die of a heart attack than those who owned one. Another study showed that dog owners had much better rates of surviving a heart attack after one year than non-owners.
Having a pet can also help you get a handle on your blood pressure. In one study of 240 married couples, pet owners had lower blood pressure than people who did not own a pet. They also had lower heart rates whether they were at rest or having a stress test (Humana.com).
I invite you to look at this book with an open mind and see if you think owning a pet could lead you to happiness and success.
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)interesting statistics on how pets can be a positive affect in our lives Fran
Never thought I would own a cat but I wanted my daughter to have pets, so I got her one. Didn't get her fixed in time and now I have four. They became mine of course because my daughter has always been busy with her other activities, so now I'm pop x 4. The heart health thing is from getting up 100 times a day to let them in and out of the house. It's more in the winter. Wouldn't change it for the world though, even though they make me madder than my daughter does at times, they're my babies. Nice article Fran.
I am going to get the book, you convinced me! I have 4 cats - how come my BP is still too high? GRIN
I'm already convinced, Fran. My 18 year old cat died two years ago and I really miss her. Clearly I need another cat to keep my heart healthy...
Fran - I got the book from the library and it is fascinating - that kitten is an incredible little guy and I am only on page 65 - I LOVE it and hope Mick will read it - I doubt he will get past the introduction by the vet without being hooked. Super read! thanks for sharing this with your readers.
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