Safety zones.  We all need them.  Why?  Because we live in a world filled with stress.  Even those who appear to have the perfect life have stress.  Take me, for example.

From all outward appearances, I have it made.  I have two big cats who dote on me.  They give me treats, play with me, and love me.  Every paper bag or box that comes into the house is given to me.  Strange thing about that, though.  Some of them seem to disappear after a few days.  I have a few boxes that have been around a long time and a couple of paper bags.  You’d think there’d be more, wouldn’t you?  Oh well.  The mystery of the disappearing bags and boxes will have to be left for another time.  Right now we’re talking about safety zones and why they’re needed.

As perfect as my life seems to be, I have stress.  You see, there’s these stray cats that come around.  Some of them look very strange.  My big cats refer to them as raccoons and skunks.  They smell different than the other stray cats and sometimes they scare me.  Then there’s my big cats.  We play a lot, but sometimes they start getting the better of me and I don’t really like that.  So I head to my safety zone and they honor it.

My big cats have started a new business.  I never knew so much went into starting and running a business.  It keeps them busy and stressed.  They don’t think a little cat like me notices these things, but I do, and some of their stress rubs off on me.  For one thing, some of the time they used to spend on me they now spend on the business.  Now that’s stress!

So, what is my safety zone?  The boxes.  Once I jump in one of those, my big cats tell me I win and they leave me alone.  Whenever I get scared or tired, I head for one of my boxes.  One of my favorites is by the front door.  It’s what they call a French door, so I can see out.  I’m double safe inside the house and inside my box, but I can still keep an eye on my world.

Just as everyone’s fears and stresses are different, so are their safety zones.  For example, when Peggy gets really stressed, she likes to either work in the garden or take a bubble bath.  For the bath, she lights a candle and puts something called “Serenity” on the CD player.  It sounds like running water and some quiet musical instruments.  She’s says both are better and cheaper than a shrink, whatever that means.  Jack heads for what he calls his Ham shack.  He talks to people on a radio, finds out things on the Internet, and does other things on the computer.  He plays music, too.

I have two hammocks that sit on the window sills.  One is in the bedroom and the other is in Jack’s Ham shack.  Those, too, are my safety zones, but I allow my big cats to pet me when I’m in those.  That’s how they’re different from the boxes.

What helps you to shut out the world?  Do you like to read?  Paint?  Garden?  Go to some special place?  Whatever it is, don’t forget to do it.  It doesn’t matter what other people think of your choice.  Remember, what works for one doesn’t necessarily work for another.  What matters is that we all respect each other’s safety zone.

How can we get others to respect our safety zones?  Two things are necessary.  First, we have to make it known to others what ours is and politely request that they leave us alone while we are in it.  We need to reassure them that they are loved, but we need to have some quiet time.  The second thing we need to do is learn what those close to us want for their safety zone and respect it, regardless of what it is.  Remember, what works for one doesn’t work for another.

Until next time, Happy Mousing,

Cricket

P. S.

You know those stray cats I told you about?  One has been coming into my house and she doesn’t understand about safety zones.  She has no respect for what is mine.  I don’t like her.  Do you think it would be okay if I smacked her good next time she comes in?  The thought makes me happy, but I probably won’t do it.  As I said, she doesn’t understand.  I guess it would be better if I tried to teach her.