It’s been a long time since I sat down to write. This year is turning out to be quite a memorable one. And that’s not only for the obvious reason. Having all my plans trampled upon, life hasn’t given me much options lately, and so, I had to take the leap when something exciting came along. Turns out we now have a four legged fellow ruling our lives. 2020 is the year we said yes to adopting a kitten!

I never would have thought I will end up here. Both me and my husband have been thinking for quite a long time about adopting a dog, but between travelling here and there, it was always a bit complicated to commit to having a dog in the house. We are not cat persons, or so we thought. But in the last month, a friend of ours found this stray kitten, and long story short – in came Muxu and our lives will never be the same again. [Muxu as in Mushu from Mulan – the ‘x’ is pronounced as ‘sh’ in the Maltese language.]

I liiiiiiiiiive! So tell me what mortal needs my protection, Great Ancestor. You just say the word and I’m there.

And let me say somethin’. Anybody who’s foolish enough to threaten our family, vengeance will be miiiine!

Mushu, Mulan (1998)

The past three weeks have been challenging, since both of us have never had a cat before. So we’re basically Googling everything, from the best food to how many times a kitten needs to poop. Since Muxu is only two months old, he needs quite a lot of attention, and he makes sure that he gets his evening playtime. So eating dinner with one hand and dangling a toy with the other has now become the norm. For those who have children of their own, this might sound very familiar. For the rest of us, having a kitten or a puppy is a good trial before having kids 😉

Saying that this year has been unpredictable is an understatement. Back in January, I had a lot of plans for this year, like every start of the year. I was supposed to see Celine Dion in July, an artist I’ve been idolising since I was around 12 years old. We were supposed to go to Jordan to visit a friend, and to the Netherlands to party with some other friends. But the cards dealt something completely different. We stayed home for most of the months, and managed to catch up on a bunch of good shows and books. I also tried to focus more on myself, started practising some yoga and got back on track with my home workouts. And finally, we got Muxu – something which we would never have done if we had to travel this year.

So what I’m trying to say is, sometimes you just need to let go and see where the path may lead. I’m a huge planner, and I don’t take it very well when things don’t go the way I planned. So this year has been quite challenging for me, and sometimes it wasn’t pretty. But having life clear the path that you had created and accepting a new one, may lead you into something which you have never thought of. And it will make you open up your heart to whatever life may throw at you.

I’m travel-sized for your convenience!

Mushu, Mulan (1998)

I’m not saying that one shouldn’t plan… I already have plans for when this virus is finally over, once a planner, always a planner 🙂 But sometimes having an off year can lead you into something beautiful and life changing. And looking at my phone gallery, I can’t say that I have become a cat person, but I became a Muxu person. Having Muxu choose my foot to sleep on, rather than his big comfy cushion always makes me do a happy dance on the inside.

Surrender to what is. Say yes to life – and see how life suddenly starts working for you rather than against you.

Eckhart Tolle

What have you said yes to this year? What unexpected and memorable experiences did life present you with?