Collecting Experiences

Cat Coach Apricot explains the beauty of collecting and why no experience is ever wasted

Hey, you guys, Apricot here. So, we’re going to continue with the theme of collecting. You know, how Aragorn talked last time about collecting years? And mentioned once again, as if it was necessary, that I am a collector myself? Yes, I take that title proudly, and you will understand why shortly.

You see, apart from collecting years, which was a very clever thought of Aragorn – and I don’t say that lightly, I mean, who would have thought? He can be so slow this one… and then suddenly he surprises with wisdom like that! Obviously, as the oldest one, I taught him well. But anyway, I let myself go a little off-topic here, I suppose…

So, apart from collecting years, I also collect toys. I have so many toys by now, I can’t really play with them all. But each of them carries a memory. A memory of playtime. How it went, if it was pleasant, the experience it gave me. You see, each toy has a different texture, different weight, different aerodynamic properties. Yes, indeed. All that matters.

It’s like when you people choose other people to spend time with. You take all kinds of different criteria into consideration – some more wise than others, but it’s a hooman world, so who am I to judge. I mean, a cat, and we always judge. But anyway…

Based on those criteria, you choose and then remember the good, the bad, the not-so-great, and the not-so-bad. And then the amazing and the purrfect. Those last two are hard to forget.

But it’s the group of the not-so-good and not-so-bad, that often gets neglected, and yet which holds so much value. It’s through those experiences that were far from amazing or purrfect, that we learn about what we actually want or what “purrfect” truly means to us.

Which attributes do matter so that the play is the most enjoyable and as smooth as possible. And these might be different than what you thought – but it’s only through those not-so-good and not-so-bad experiences that you come to realize them. That you learn what to truly look for in a toy - or in life.

And then there are the bad ones. The bad ones that leave scars. And we would like to forget… luckily, no toy ever gave me a physical scar, but let’s say I may have experienced some emotional damage at one point…

But you know what? I value that toy nevertheless.

The thing is, all the toys are mine, and as such, they are all part of my story. And when I gather them all together, like I like to do, I see all those experiences in one glance. And I know they were each valuable. Because each of them taught me something. And as such, there are no bad experiences in life – or in play.

The more you collect, the more you learn and the more you grow.

What’s important, though, is not to lose your sense of self in all that play. You see, that’s why my favourite toy will always be that white mouse that’s been repaired so many times. Because it reminds me of myself. And the journey we all take. Because no matter how many times we need to repair ourselves, we can always rise and play again. Find the new toy, collect the new experience. Then add it to our collection. And that’s life. And it’s all good that way. So long, we don’t forget where we came from.