Day 72/100 New Year Ikigai
New Year Ikigai
Stormin’
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Your ikigai isn’t disappearing. It’s condensing—becoming more precise, more honest, more demanding in a good way.
What lies ahead is not a retreat from life, but a refinement of it.
What the Path Becomes
The senior warrior monk is not a fighter chasing conquest, nor a monk escaping the world. He is someone who has earned the right to simplify, and now uses discipline as a form of mercy—to himself and to others.
Ahead of you is a life shaped by chosen constraints:
- Fewer possessions, but sharper attention
- Fewer words, but greater weight
- Fewer distractions, but deeper presence
This path asks for less noise and more intent.
The Body: Maintained, Not Proved
You are no longer training to impress or compete.
You are training to remain capable.
- Strength becomes insurance, not ego
- Balance becomes wisdom, not performance
- Recovery becomes part of discipline, not a weakness
Every movement is practical. Every habit has a reason.
The body is no longer a project—it is a tool worth maintaining.
The Mind: Quiet, Watchful, Unfooled
Ahead is a mind that no longer argues with reality.
- You observe before reacting
- You choose boredom over chaos
- You let urges pass without obeying them
The senior warrior monk cultivates mental stamina—the ability to sit with discomfort, ambiguity, silence, and truth without flinching.
This is not detachment.
It is clarity without drama.
The Daily Life: Ritual Over Motivation
What’s coming is a life built on ritual instead of willpower.
- Morning movement, even when enthusiasm is absent
- Simple food, eaten with attention
- Writing, reflection, or study done steadily, not urgently
You stop waiting to “feel ready.”
You act because the system says it’s time.
The Role You Grow Into
Whether you intend it or not, people will read you differently.
Not because you are loud.
But because you are consistent.
The senior warrior monk becomes:
- A stabilizing presence
- A model of restraint in a frantic world
- Proof that aging can sharpen instead of soften
You don’t preach.
Your life does the explaining.
The Deeper Reward
What lies ahead is not enlightenment or perfection.
It is something quieter—and rarer:
- Self-trust
- Reduced regret
- A sense that nothing essential is being postponed
You are no longer preparing to live later.
You are living in alignment now.
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Harold is here. According to the vet, he needs to drop from 24 pounds to 16. It’s going to take a year or more to pull this off.
Most Common Causes of Rapid Weight Gain in Cats
1. Overeating or Diet Changes
- Free-feeding dry food
- High-calorie treats
- New food that’s richer than the old one
- Multiple people feeding the cat
👉 Weight gain here is usually gradual, not sudden over days.
2. Fluid Retention (Very Important)
This can look like “sudden weight gain” but is actually fluid buildup, not fat.
Possible causes:
- Heart disease
- Liver disease
- Kidney disease
- Low blood protein
- Internal bleeding or infection
Signs that point to fluid:
- Bloated or distended belly
- Belly feels firm or “water-balloon” like
- Rapid breathing or panting
- Lethargy
⚠️ This is a veterinary emergency if it appears quickly.
3. Constipation or Urinary Retention
- Severe constipation can add noticeable weight
- Urinary blockage (especially in male cats) can cause abdominal swelling
Signs:
- Straining in litter box
- Crying or frequent trips with little output
- Restlessness or hiding
🚨 Urinary blockage = emergency
4. Hormonal Disorders
Less common but possible:
- Hypothyroidism (rare in cats, more often after thyroid treatment)
- Cushing’s disease (very rare)
Usually causes:
- Weight gain with lethargy
- Skin or coat changes
5. Pregnancy
- Gradual belly enlargement over weeks
- Increased appetite
- Behavioral changes
Not “rapid” unless you notice late.
6. Tumors or Abdominal Masses
- Can cause sudden abdominal enlargement
- Weight gain may be uneven or lopsided
Often paired with:
- Reduced appetite
- Hiding
- Weakness
7. Reduced Activity
- Aging
- Pain (arthritis)
- Illness
- Stress or depression
This causes slow weight gain, not sudden.
Visual Clue: Fat vs. Fluid vs. Distension
When to Call the Vet Immediately
Call now or today if weight gain happened over days or a week, especially with:
- Bloated belly
- Not eating or drinking
- Lethargy
- Breathing changes
- Hiding or discomfort
- Litter box changes
One Key Question for You
Did the cat gain weight slowly over weeks—or suddenly over days?
That single detail makes a huge diagnostic difference.
If you’d like, you can tell me:
- Age
- Male or female
- Indoor/outdoor
- How fast the change happened
- Any appetite, litter box, or behavior changes
Most Likely Causes When Weight Gain Happens Over 3–4 Months
1. Calories > Activity (Most Common)
This is by far the #1 reason.
Common triggers:
- Switching to a higher-calorie food (even “better quality” foods can be denser)
- Free-feeding dry food
- Treat creep (a little extra daily adds up fast)
- Reduced activity (aging, stress, seasonal changes)
👉 Indoor cats can gain 1–2 pounds in 4 months surprisingly easily.
2. Neutering / Hormonal Metabolism Shift
If the cat was:
- Recently neutered/spayed
- Or transitioned from young adult → mature adult
Metabolism often drops 20–30%, while appetite stays high.
3. Age-Related Slowdown or Subtle Pain
Cats hide discomfort well.
- Arthritis or stiffness → less movement
- Less play, more sleeping
- Same food intake
Weight gain happens quietly.
4. Constipation / Mild GI Slowing
Can add some weight and belly firmness, especially if:
- Hydration is low
- Mostly dry food diet
- Larger stools or less frequent bowel movements
5. Endocrine or Medical Causes (Less Common, but Possible)
Uncommon—but worth ruling out if weight gain continues:
- Hypothyroidism (rare in cats, usually post-hyperthyroid treatment)
- Insulin resistance / early diabetes
- Steroid medications (if any were used)
These usually come with other signs (lethargy, coat changes, thirst, appetite changes).
What It’s Unlikely to Be (Given 4 Months)
✔ Sudden fluid buildup
✔ Acute organ failure
✔ Urinary blockage
✔ Emergency conditions
Those progress over days to weeks, not months.
Quick At-Home Checks You Can Do
No vet visit required yet:
- Can you feel ribs with light pressure?
- Is the waist still visible from above?
- Is the belly soft and even (not tight or lopsided)?
- Any increase in thirst, urination, or appetite?
If yes to most → lifestyle cause likely.
Simple Next Steps (Low Stress)
- Measure food exactly (no free-pouring)
- Switch to scheduled meals
- Add 5–10 minutes of play twice daily
- Reduce treats by 50%
- Weigh monthly (even a bathroom scale works: you + cat, then subtract)
If weight continues to rise despite this, then a basic vet check + bloodwork is reasonable—not urgent.
One Clarifying Question (Optional)
Has anything changed in the last 4 months?
- Food brand or type?
- Activity level?
- Stress (move, new pets, owner schedule)?
- Neutering/spaying?
Answering that often pinpoints the cause immediately.
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