Our Claire has been to the vet…

This week, I took my cat to the vet for her annual booster jab. Whilst she was there, the vet weighed her and found her more than a kilogram over weight. This shocked me because this meant she was even more overweight than she was last time. I’d spent the year cutting back on her food and yet she was still overweight. The vet was rightly concerned and asked me if I knew why this was. I was baffled. She doesn’t go out any more because she gets bullied by next door’s Tom. So I knew it couldn’t be the neighbours feeding her. It had to be me. So I was instructed to cutback even more.

This has been difficult. My cat still expects to be fed the same amount so keeps whining for food. This has made me feel very guilty. I know she can’t understand me but I keep apologising and explaining that I have to cut back on the food. I was feeling so bad that I messaged my friend who reminded me that I was doing it for my cat’s own good. She’s right of course and it reminded me that we do sometimes have to do things – things that can be hard and rather not do – for the greater good.

Maybe it’s because the shops are currently full of Christmas stuff but I was also reminded that I never got everything I put on my Christmas list. I would wake up every Christmas Day to find that Santa had missed something off. I would be upset and whine to my parents and they’d make up excuses for him which never really helped – Santa could fly and had magical elves. So how could he not bring me everything I wanted! – Of course, as an adult, I realise now that I would’ve been very spoiled as a child to get everything I wanted. It’s a lesson in life we all have to learn: how to deal with disappointment. So I wonder whether Santa was actually working for the greater good and preparing me for life?

I also think of the drop-in centre at WHISC. I’m upset that I can’t currently drop in for a cup of tea and a chat as I like but the compromise is that I’ve not lost out altogether. Instead, I can make an appointment to do whatever I need to do there. Having things this way, also makes things safer for the staff – after all it’s very hard to run a centre without staff! – by cutting down on the risk of infection which, in turn, makes things safer for me and other users. So, here too, I can see that WHISC are working for the greater good.

And just take a look at the What’s On page – there’s still loads to do!  Plus they’re still continuing to offer their Listening Ear service. So whatever might be on your mind, just call 0151 707 1826 or leave a message on the WHISC Facebook page with your phone number and they’ll ring you back. So, whatever you’re going through, there’s no need to go it alone. WHISC are still here for us.