Animals can teach us so much.

My cat Leyla and I have this little ritual in the mornings: chase the mouse.

I grab a small, felt-covered mouse from inside my nightstand drawer and launch it down the hallway of my apartment. My abode is laid out shot-gun style, making it perfect for long, mad dashes throughout the place. Which Leyla does on the regular, with or without any encouragement from me.

Anyway, back to the game…

The thing I admire most about Leyla is her pure gusto in the hunt. She will run over the mouse or bat it down several feet further than the catch, becoming completely acrobatic at times; eight pounds of fur and muscle and fury, pouncing and doing somersaults and even smacking herself into the walls with sheer abandon.

I wish I could be that exuberant over things.

She will also trot by me as I go to retrieve the mouse for another volley. I will turn to throw it and see her in position, lying in wait to the side of the hallway entrance. She peers around the corner, her claws extending and retracting in anticipation. Eyes real big, her butt wiggling, waiting to spring. When the mouse rockets by she will literally jump three to four feet into the air and smack it, Dwayne Wade-style, across the room. Impressive.

Ahh, the patience of a saint.

This (literal) cat-and-mouse game is a good way for both of us to start off the morning with some much-needed movement. And, in my case, laughter.

Then, after about eight rounds of this — more or less — she will let a mouse or two go by. Just sits there and watches it pass. Gets interested in something else. That’s my signal that she’s had enough of the game. For now.

Typical cat.

As I head to my desk I am reminded of three things:

1. all good things eventually come to an end, so enjoy them in the moment
2. rewards come to those who position themselves in the right place at the right time
3. it’s totally okay to change course and do something else

Smart cat.

I want to be more like Leyla.