Friday, August 29, 2025

“Emily’s Vet Visit: Urinary Infection in our Older Cat and How We Managed It”

 



“Emily’s Vet Visit: Urinary Infection in our Older Cat and How We Managed It”


Emily doing her Audrey Hepburn pose!




Emily's Vet Visit: Urinary Infection in Our Older Cat and How We Managed It

While taking Daisy to her vet visit, I noticed a poster in the clinic's exam room recommending

routine blood and urine tests for older cats. Since Emily is our oldest cat, I decided it would be a

good idea to have her checked as well.

One of my main concerns was thyroid problems, as these are quite common in older cats.

Fortunately, Emily’s blood test came back perfectly fine! However, her urine test revealed a

urinary infection. The vet prescribed an antibacterial medication for her. Since Emily is very

small, the vet cut the pills into quarters and also provided a large syringe for giving liquid or

creamy medications.

Here’s what worked for us when giving her the medication:

We crushed a quarter of a pill into powder.

We put some of Emily's favorite creamy treat in the syringe, then the powdered medication,

and finally more treat on top.

We gave it to her gently in her mouth. Emily happily ate it all!

What Causes Urinary Infections in Cats

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) happen when bacteria enter the urinary system. We learned that

common causes can include bacterial infections, crystals or bladder stones, and underlying

medical conditions like diabetes. Stress can also weaken the immune system, making cats more

vulnerable.



Why Older Cats Get UTIs More Often

Older cats are more susceptible due to several factors. Their immune systems can be weaker

with age, making it harder to fight off infections. They may also not fully empty their bladders,

and chronic conditions can increase the risk of infection.

How to Help Prevent Urinary Infections

While infections can't always be prevented, you can reduce the risk. Our vet gave us a few tips:

Ensure your cat always has access to fresh water; a cat fountain can encourage drinking.

Feed them a wet food diet, which increases their water intake.

Keep their litter box clean, especially if you have multiple cats.

Get regular vet check-ups to catch any problems early.

Manage their weight and reduce stress to support their immune system.


A note about urine collection: our vet explained that they use an ultrasound and a needle to get

a clean, non-contaminated sample. Some cats may have mild discomfort afterward. Emily did

have some discomfort the day after her visit, but after covering her with a blanket and sitting

with her for a while, she finally relaxed and went to sleep.

We are not vets, so this is just our experience and research to help other cat owners. If your cat

shows any unusual symptoms, always consult your veterinarian.


We were able to find the creamy treats and the syringe tools we used for Emily on Amazon. We

are not Amazon affiliates, just sharing where we found the items that worked for us.

References

PetMD. "Urinary Tract Infection in Cats."

WebMD. "Cat Hyperthyroidism."

ASPCA. "Urinary Health in Cats."

VCA Animal Hospitals. "Cystocentesis (Bladder Tap) in Cats."

Sunday, August 24, 2025

Introducing Daisy: Our Youngest Cat in the Old Clowder

 


Introducing Daisy: Our Youngest Cat in the Old Clowder

Watch Daisy’s Video




Daisy is the youngest cat in our “old clowder.” What do we mean by old clowder? Well, when my wife and her son lived in New Mexico, they had three cats: Emily, the oldest; Jessica, the middle-aged cat; and Daisy, the youngest. When my wife and I got married, she and her son moved in with me, bringing all three cats with them.

Daisy may be the youngest, but our Norwegian Forest cat is also the sickest of them all. She has severe arthritis, asthma, and diabetes. But how did my wife get Daisy in the first place? Here’s the story.

How Daisy Came to Us

My wife and her son used to visit a small store across from the library. It was a charming little shop with clothes, earrings, statues, books, and even a tiny restaurant area. Her son loved going there after the library, especially for their Italian sodas and mini pizzas. 

One day, a mother cat and her kittens appeared at the store. The store owner managed to give away all the kittens but not the mother cat. She told my wife she needed to find a home for her.

At that time, my wife and her son had recently lost a cat, Fleur, who had run away. Feeling their house was empty without her, they decided to adopt the store cat. 

The store owner had named the cat Kali, after one of the Hindu goddesses. If you want to learn more about Kali, here’s a link: Kali. My wife and her son preferred the name Daisy, so the store cat became Daisy.

My wife promptly took Daisy to the vet, made sure she had all her vaccines, and had her spayed. Daisy wasn’t the nicest cat at first—in fact, she was quite mean. When my wife asked the store owner about her, she explained that she had found the cat behind the store and felt sorry for her, taking her in along with the cute kittens. Remember, though, that feral cats can be quite challenging. 


A Rough Start

Before my wife and I were married, I visited her, and Daisy bit me. I ended up with cat-scratch disease. Important note: cat-scratch disease can get serious, so you must go to a doctor immediately if bitten or scratched, even if your cat is fully vaccinated. You can learn more here: Cat Scratch Disease.

After the bite, Daisy ran away for a few weeks. Then one day, a cat came to the front door meowing to come in. My wife let her in. Later, when I visited again, I noticed this cat was skinnier and much nicer than Daisy used to be. My wife and I discussed why Daisy seemed so different, and we decided it was because she had been busy running around and jumping over fences.

Enter Daisy Two

Later in the week, Daisy got out again. While my wife was hanging clothes on the line, she noticed two cats approaching: one with two orange-tipped ears and the other with only one. The one with two orange- tipped ears ran away, while the one-eared cat came to my wife. 

We named her Daisy Two. Daisy One never returned, but Daisy Two stayed with my wife and her son. Realizing she didn’t have her original cat, my wife put up posters everywhere—in every store and vet clinic—but no one came to claim Daisy Two. Also, realizing Daisy Two wasn’t her original cat, she took her to the vet for shots, only to find out she was already spayed.

Below the title is a video showing Daisy today and how she’s doing. If you have stories about your cats, we’d love to hear them! Share in the comments below or send them to us by email:

    serenityofthemindyt@gmail.com


Here are some more videos of all our cats:

Cat Video Playlist

For a story about Emily on the blog, click this link:

Meet Emily, Our Beloved Family Cat

Don’t forget to follow us!

Next time, we’ll share tips on how to care for a sick cat like Daisy, so you can help your feline friends stay comfortable and happy.



Saturday, August 23, 2025

Visual Serenity: How Calming Nature Scenes Can Transform Your Mind

 




 Visual Serenity: How Calming Nature Scenes Can

 

Transform Your Mind




Calming Scenes for Serenity: How Your Surroundings Support Your Mental Health
August 20, 2025 | Wellness & Psychology

Our surroundings have a powerful effect on our minds. From the moment we step into a room, our brain is assessing whether the environment is safe, calm, and restorative. The colors on the walls, the lighting, the textures, and even subtle shadows all send signals to our nervous system—before we consciously register a thing. In this sense, our environment is our first form of self-care.

Why Visual Serenity Matters

Humans are wired to respond to visual stimuli. The retina is part of the central nervous system, sending information directly to emotion centers like the amygdala and hypothalamus. Chaotic or harsh visual environments increase stress hormones such as cortisol, while soft, balanced spaces invite relaxation.

Nature, in particular, has profound benefits. Research shows that exposure to natural environments—or even just images of them—can:

  • Creating serenity doesn’t require a full home makeover. Focus on these elements:

  • Soft Lighting: Warm lamps or daylight filtered through curtains create a soothing atmosphere.

  • Natural Textures: Wood, plants, cotton, and other organic materials help the brain relax.

  • Muted Colors: Soft greens, sand tones, blush, or oatmeal provide visual comfort.

  • Gentle Movement: Swaying curtains, flickering candles, or water reflections draw attention without overstimulation.

  • Negative Space: Open areas let your eyes rest and reduce cognitive fatigue.

Even small adjustments, like adding a plant or displaying a calming image, allow your nervous system to reset.

Nature and Visual Anchors

Nature images and real greenery serve as visual anchors, providing your brain with a point of focus when stress feels overwhelming. Examples include:

  • Watching steam rise from a mug

  • Gazing at a slowly moving lava lamp

  • Observing sunlight on leaves or ceiling shadows

  • Displaying a single calming photo or quote

These anchors cue your nervous system that you are safe and grounded, reducing anxiety and promoting emotional stability.

Simple Ways to Refresh Your Space

  • Use one or two warm lamps instead of harsh overhead lighting

  • Declutter a single surface at a time

  • Introduce one natural element (leaf, shell, plant)

  • Limit your palette to two or three soothing colors

  • Place a comforting visual where you can see it often

Even minor changes can help regulate your mind, restore calm, and support mental health.

Final Thoughts

Creating calming scenes is more than decoration—it’s a form of everyday self-care. By intentionally designing your environment with soft light, natural textures, and visual anchors, you give your brain permission to relax, restore focus, and enjoy a sense of peace. Serenity doesn’t require perfection; it’s about presence, intention, and subtlety.

Bring Serenity into Your Space

If you’re looking to enhance your environment with calming visuals, Amazon offers a variety of nature-inspired prints and relaxing wall art. We are not affiliated with Amazon—we only share these links as helpful suggestions for readers seeking serenity in their homes. Some options include:





✅ These Amazon links are proper URLs that readers can click. They are not affiliate links; they are only there to guide readers toward products that can help create a serene environment.

Enhance Your Calm with Our Videos

In addition to visual artwork, we provide our own calming videos paired with soothing music. These can help you unwind, meditate, or simply enjoy a few minutes of mental restoration, complementing the peaceful atmosphere of your home.

Calming Brain Candy


The Minute of Calm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJeA-Qmpd-c&list=PLW6Fasl8Gf9BY-DM_SOI2J0SwLzl2nCVA


Calming Music Video for Relaxation


Calming Music to Make you Relax

References / Sources

  1. Shoemaker, A. (2025). 8 Ways Calming Nature Pictures Improve Health.

  2. Her Serenity. (2025, April 28). The Benefits of Nature for Finding Peace and Calm.

  3. Visual Serenity: How Your Surroundings Quiet the Mind. (2025, July 28). SootheSync.


Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Let Go of Stress with Meditation: Cultivating Serenity in Daily Life





Introduction:

In our fast-paced world, stress can feel unavoidable. Yet, meditation offers a simple yet powerful way to pause, breathe, and reconnect with your inner calm. By focusing the mind, regulating emotions, and promoting relaxation, meditation can help you let go of stress and experience lasting serenity.

How Meditation Reduces Stress:
Meditation works on multiple levels to calm the mind and body:

1. Focus and Awareness

  • Mindfulness: Meditation encourages attention to the present moment, helping detach from past regrets and future worries.

  • Attention Training: Regular practice improves focus, allowing you to respond to stressors with clarity rather than reaction.

2. Physiological Benefits

  • Lower Heart Rate & Blood Pressure: Meditation reduces resting heart rate and blood pressure, lowering physical stress.

  • Stress Reactivity: The body becomes less reactive to stressful situations over time.

3. Emotional Regulation

  • Improved Self-Awareness: Greater awareness helps manage emotional responses effectively.

  • Reduction of Negative Feelings: Meditation can decrease anxiety and depressive symptoms.

4. Coping and Resilience

  • Fresh Perspectives: Meditation helps you view stressors with calm and clarity.

  • Enhanced Resilience: Regular practice builds emotional strength to navigate challenges.

Popular Meditation Techniques for Stress Relief:

  • Mindfulness Meditation: Focuses on present-moment awareness to cultivate calm.

  • Loving-Kindness Meditation (Metta): Enhances compassion and dissolves negative emotions.

  • Body Scan Meditation: Increases awareness of physical tension and promotes relaxation.

  • Guided Visualization: Uses mental imagery to enter a peaceful state.

  • Mantra Meditation: Repeating calming phrases to maintain concentration.

The Role of Breath:
Conscious breathing is a cornerstone of meditation. Techniques like deep diaphragmatic breathing or the 4-7-8 method slow the heart rate, calm the nervous system, and anchor your mind in the present.

Incorporating Meditation Into Daily Life:

  • Short Mindful Moments: Even a few minutes during meals or before work can reduce stress.

  • Daily Rituals: Morning or evening meditation sessions reinforce serenity and emotional balance.

  • Apps and Resources: Tools like Calm, Headspace, and Insight Timer offer structured guidance for beginners and experienced meditators alike.

What Science Tells Us:
Modern neuroscience confirms what centuries of meditation practice have suggested:

  • Increased gray matter in areas of the brain linked to emotional regulation and self-awareness.

  • Reduced amygdala activity, meaning a calmer response to stress.

  • Enhanced hippocampus volume, improving memory and emotional resilience.
    Even just 10–20 minutes daily can create measurable benefits, rewiring the brain for focus, empathy, and inner peace.

Guided Meditation Journey – Step by Step:

  1. Prepare Your Space: Find a quiet, comfortable spot and eliminate distractions.

  2. Deep Breathing: Center your attention on your breath, letting go of external thoughts.

  3. Body Scan: Notice tension and consciously release it from head to toe.

  4. Visualization: Picture a serene scene using all your senses.

  5. Focus or Affirmations: Repeat a calming mantra or cultivate self-compassion.

  6. Return Slowly: Gradually reconnect with your surroundings, carrying the calm into your day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid:

  • Expecting instant results

  • Forcing relaxation

  • Skipping preparation

Conclusion:
Meditation is more than a temporary escape; it is a practice that fosters lasting serenity, resilience, and emotional well-being. By integrating meditation into your daily life, you can navigate stress with calm, clarity, and compassion. Start with a few minutes each day, and gradually let serenity become a natural part of your life.

References / Sources


  1. Mayo Clinic – Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break:

  2. University of California – How Meditation Reduces Stress:

  3. Spiritual Meanings Guide – The Power of Serenity in Meditation Practices: 

  4. Science News Today – How Meditation Changes Your Brain: The Science of Inner Peace:

  5. In Touch Counseling – Serenity in Stillness: A Guided Meditation Journey: 

  6. Wikipedia – Meditation: 


Monday, August 18, 2025

How Cats and Laughter Relieve Stress and Boost Serenity


 Serenity





Laughter offers powerful benefits for both the mind and body, playing a key role in stress relief and overall well-being. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles, increases oxygen intake, and triggers the release of endorphins—natural feel-good chemicals in the brain. This process helps activate and then calm the body’s stress response, promoting a relaxed feeling. Over the long term, laughter can boost the immune system, ease pain, improve mood, and enhance personal satisfaction. Incorporating laughter into daily life can be a simple and effective way to foster serenity and emotional resilience.
Source: Mayo Clinic

Stress, on the other hand, disrupts our ability to feel calm and serene, often leading to physical tension and emotional unrest. That’s why finding natural ways to relieve stress—like laughter—can be so important for maintaining a peaceful, balanced life.

That is how cats help us find serenity. They are super funny, which inspired us to start our Funny Cat Compilations. Cats do the craziest things—from sliding down concrete ramps and bounding through snow to stealing fish from a fisherman’s bucket—that bring laughter and lighten the mood.

If you’re fortunate to have your own cat or any other pet that works for you, many authorities agree that pets contribute positively to mood, health, and serenity. Here are some trusted organizations and what they say:


  • National Institutes of Health (NIH): Research from the NIH indicates that interacting with animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost mood. These interactions may also decrease levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, and lower blood pressure.

  • NIH and pets

  • University of California, Davis - Health: According to UC Davis Health, pets, including cats, bring happiness, companionship, and a sense of purpose. They help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise, and improve overall health.

  • UCD and pets


  • Mental Health America (MHA): MHA reports that animal-assisted interventions can reduce anger, anxiety, depression, and general distress, while improving the ability to socialize. These benefits are particularly notable for individuals receiving treatment for mental illnesses.



Psychology Today: An article in Psychology Today discusses how owning a pet can provide mental health benefits to young adults suffering from depression and older adults experiencing loneliness, emphasizing the positive impact of companion animals.
  • Psychology Today and Pets

  • We own six cats, and they bring so much joy and serenity to our lives. Jessica, our smokey tabby (pictured above), is the most loving and calming of them all. If she senses you’re tired or not feeling well, she’ll snuggle up close to offer comfort and calm. But if you’re really sick and in distress, Jessica doesn’t hesitate—she’ll do everything in her catly power to wake you up. We captured this incredible moment in a short video where she woke my wife while she was sleeping and, quite literally, saved her life.

               See the video below-







Friday, August 15, 2025

Halloween: History, Fun, and a Stress-Free Celebration

 

Halloween: History, Fun, and a Stress-Free  Celebration



Halloween is a magical time of year,  full of creativity, costumes, and, of course, pumpkins. But the most important step to making it stress-free is to take a deep breath and remember it doesn’t have to be perfect. It only has to be fun and enjoyable for everyone—your way, your pace.


The Origins of Halloween

Halloween began over 2,000 years ago with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that during this time, the veil between the living and the dead was thinnest, allowing spirits to roam the Earth. To protect themselves, people lit bonfires and wore costumes to confuse or ward off wandering spirits.

Learn more about Samhain and its origins:

History.com

Encyclopedia Britannica

Later, in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III established All Saints’ Day on November 1. The evening before became All Hallows’ Eve, which eventually evolved into Halloween. This blending of Christian and Celtic traditions is how many Halloween customs, like costumes and festive celebrations, first began. Christian influence on Halloween


More on All Hallows’ Eve


The Jack-o’-Lantern Story

One of the most famous Halloween traditions, carving jack-o’-lanterns, comes from an old Irish folktale about Stingy Jack, a clever but selfish man who tricked the Devil—twice! When Jack died, he wasn’t allowed into Heaven because of his bad deeds, and he couldn’t go to Hell because of the deal he made with the Devil. Instead, he was doomed to wander the earth forever with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack placed the coal inside a hollowed-out turnip, creating the first lantern that would bear his name: Jack of the Lantern, later shortened to jack-o’-lantern. 

When Irish immigrants came to America, they found pumpkins perfect for carving—larger, easier to hollow out, and abundant in the fall. That’s how the pumpkin jack-o’-lantern tradition began.

Jack-o’-lantern history on Wikipedia

Food & Wine on jack-o’-lantern origins

Pumpkin Carving Tips

Choose the right pumpkin: Look for one that’s firm, with a flat bottom so it won’t roll. Use safe tools: Pumpkin carving kits or small serrated knives are safer than big kitchen knives. 

Cut a lid at an angle: This prevents the top from falling inside the pumpkin when you replace it. Scoop thoroughly: Remove seeds and pulp so your pumpkin lasts longer.

Plan your design: Draw your pattern on paper or directly on the pumpkin with a marker before cutting.

Light safely: Use LED candles instead of real flames to avoid fire hazards.

Keep it cool: Store carved pumpkins in a cool, shaded area to slow mold and shriveling.


Trick-or-Treating: From Souling to Modern Fun

The tradition of going house-to-house for treats has European roots. In medieval Ireland and Scotland, the poor would go door-to-door on All Hallows’ Eve, offering prayers for the dead in exchange for small sweet pastries called soul cakes. This practice was called souling.

When Irish and Scottish immigrants came to the United States in the 19th century, these customs blended with local celebrations. By the 1920s and 1930s, children were dressing up in costumes and collecting candy from neighbors, although it wasn’t until the 1950s that trick-or-treating became widely accepted and family-friendly.

History.com on trick-or-treating

Smithsonian Magazine on trick-or-treating

National Geographic on trick-or-treating


Modern Halloween Traditions


Today, Halloween is full of fun activities, from costume parties to haunted attractions and, of course, carving pumpkins. Communities often host safe, organized events in parks or local centers with games, treats, and food—perfect for families who want to enjoy Halloween without worrying about walking door-to-door. Some of the most popular traditions include:

Trick-or-Treating: Children dress in costumes and collect candy from neighbors.

Costume Parties: Friends and family gather to celebrate creatively.

Carving Jack-o’-Lanterns: Hollow out pumpkins and decorate them safely.

Haunted Attractions: Fun and spooky events for all ages.

More on Halloween traditions


Enjoy a Safe and Fun Halloween

Halloween is best when it’s fun and safe! Here are some tips:

Costumes: Make them safe and comfortable—nothing that trips you or blocks vision. Add reflective tape if you’ll be outside at night.

Jack-o’-lanterns: Carve carefully. Use kid-safe tools if children are involved and never leave lit candles unattended.

Trick-or-treating: Always go with an adult, stick to neighborhoods you know, and watch out for streets. Check candy before eating, and never accept treats from strangers.

Community events: Many parks and local organizations host safe Halloween events with games, treats, and food—great alternatives if walking door-to-door isn’t ideal.

Pets: Cats and other pets don’t like tricks—they get grumpy! Give them special treats and enjoy their spooky cuteness instead.

And after all the fun, don’t forget to watch our Halloween videos, including our kitty Halloween trick- or-treat adventures—no tricks for the cats, just lots of adorable treats!


Sunday, August 10, 2025

Shy Artist – The Dreams of Art

  







 





Shy Artist – The Dreams of Art

I have a lot of dreams as an artist. I want to improve my drawing skills. I do okay with nature, but I want to draw animation-style characters. I’m currently taking lessons from Chommang Drawing on YouTube. He has a long history of working with anime studios in Korea and has spent years teaching people how to draw. He encourages us to “draw freely like a child.”

Chommang Drawing YouTube Channel

I started wanting to draw anime after watching some of my favorite anime shows. There are so many that I can’t even remember all their names, but two of my top favorites are Demon Slayer and Naruto. I also need to learn animation because the content creator Serenity of the Mind has many ideas for videos he would like to see animated. One is about why he started his channel. Others include sleep video ideas, stories about Grandmother Serenity, and, of course, cats.

My biggest challenge is that I’m older than dirt, so I do everything very slowly. That means I have to draw all sorts of things—people, cats, fat people, old people, skinny young people—and then figure out how to animate them.


Tools I Use

Canva

I use Canva for simple animation. It’s easy to use and has both free and paid versions. I use the paid version so I can create green screen content for my artwork. For example, I animated a leaf falling beside a vase in this short using Canva:

Vase Calm Short

Nature Sounds | A Minute of Calm (The vase short is the last one in a three-part short series.)

Canva website: www.canva.com


Kdenlive

For more complex animation that Canva can’t handle—like animated waves or moving circles—I use Kdenlive. It has a steeper learning curve, but there are helpful tutorials on YouTube. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini have also helped me a lot.

Here are two of my videos made using Kdenlive:

Sleep: Serenity of the Mind: Tranquil Twilight for Deep Sleep

Sleep: Serenity of the Mind: Otherworldly Dreams

Kdenlive website: 


Synfig

I’ve also started learning Synfig, a 2D animation platform. It’s professional-level software and can create intricate animations. It’s not the hardest platform out there, but it definitely has a learning curve. Fortunately, Synfig has one of the best user forums I’ve ever seen, along with excellent YouTube tutorials.

Here’s a video where I used Synfig to animate a mushroom:

Sleep: Deep Sleep Music Video

Synfig website: 

My Painting Journey

I also dream of becoming a better painter and illustrator. I’ve taken several lessons through Craftsy.com. One of the first was Startup Library: Painting with Watercolors by Kateri Ewing. She offers several great classes:

Learn to Play with Your Watercolors

Learn Basic Brushstrokes

Watercolor Methods: Color Mixing

I also took Mix It Up! Mixed Media Step by Step by Lindsay Weirich.

Craftsy offers an all-access pass for $123 a year, which I think is a great deal. They offer lessons on everything from sewing and gardening to painting and other crafts. I do not earn any commission by mentioning them—I'm just sharing helpful resources that may benefit others as much as they have helped me.

Craftsy website: 


If you have any questions, feel free to email the owner of Serenity of the Mind. He’ll make sure I get your message, and I’ll be happy to assist however I can.


Next Time

Next time, I’ll share a new adventure I’m starting: making my own watercolors and learning about something called Glow Core. I’ll also introduce some wonderful artists I’ve learned from on YouTube, whose free videos have helped me a great deal and are available to everyone.


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Fire Horse

  Fire Horse Fire Horse picture by Pixabay Buy Me a Coffee If my work brings you peace, consider supporting a real human for $3. When I hear...