I was listening to the song “A Plea from a Cat Named Virtute” by the Weakerthans the other day.  I love that song but it always gets me.  It hits me in the emotional gut.

The song is the imagined monologue of a cat to its depressed owner.  I remember the first time I heard the song.  I was in the car driving my family back from a visit to my sister’s home and listening to the CBC when the song came on.  I don’t usually listen to lyrics of songs, but I did this time.

It knocked the wind out of me.  The killer for me are the lyrics at the end of the song:

I swear I’m going to bite you hard

And taste your tinny blood

If you don’t stop the self-defeating

Lies you’ve been repeating

Since the day you brought me home

I know you’re strong

It’s not that I’m a big fan of cats or imagined conversations with pets.  But it’s the idea that we walk around with the belief that we’re weak or not enough and yet others can see our strengths even when we can’t.

We’re not weak.  We’re shackled with the BELIEF we’re weak.  And if we could step outside our limiting beliefs we can see our strengths — the way others can see them inside us.  Or even if they don’t see them.

I know you’re strong.  Do you know it, as well?

P.S.  If you haven’t heard the song or want to check it out again, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd1J6LpvECI

© 2019 Peter Gruner