Minimize stress, ulcers and risk of burning out.

When I was five my family lived in an apartment on the ground floor. It's the only time I ever had a garden. The garden had small bushes, wild grass, rosehip bushes and a flower bed. Just like a regular garden. There were also nettles.

I wasn't a very bright kid. One day I went to a nettle and put both my hands in there to see what would happen. I'll give you a couple of seconds of silence to figure out what happened next.

My hands weren't just itching. They were on fire. I didn't know what to do with my fingers. I end up scratching my eyes. First the one then the other. I told you I wasn't a very bright kid. My eyes swelled up and dad drove me to the hospital. The doctor told us my body had had a strong reaction. Since then I've been allergic to pollen, dogs, cats and other things that have made a lot of situations difficult.

After that I hated furry animals, trees, the hot seasons and nettles. The allergies made me tear up and snivel. The years go by. I kept blowing my nose.

One day I meet Ninja and Leo. Ninja is gray and moves like a ninja over the rooftops. Leo is yellow and fat and moves accordingly. It was a case of love at first sight. I had never liked cats before but something happened when I met them.

It started with me saying hello. They greeted me back. They were tiny and cute kittens but I kept my distance. It was a combination of allergies and respect. Then they started to rub up against my legs. I might have petted them a little. I closed my eyes and waited for the appropriate runny nose. Nothing happened. So I keep petting them, carefully. The years go by.

Then a couple of days ago I have this out of body experience. My eyes turn into a camera that sweeps over my body and I see myself coming home. I take off my shoes and sit down in the sofa where Ninja is laying and is just being. She looks up at me and greets me.

For you that don't have cats I'll tell you, they lay down a lot. Resting. They get up to eat. Walk around a bit. Lick themselves clean. And rest some more.

So I see myself sitting in that sofa. See myself leaning down, putting my head on the pillow next to the hairy ninja cat. She strokes her head against my hand, letting me know where she wants to be scratched. The camera zooms in. We're cheek to cheek. My one hand is scratching her behind the ear and the sofa vibrates from her purr. The image shakes. Then freezes.