Hide from the Vacuum, NOT your Emotions: Life Lessons from Marvin the "Mental Health Warrior" Cat
- Bruce Schutter
- Oct 6
- 6 min read
It started like any other day — until it didn’t. I was sitting at my desk, sipping my diet soda, wondering if stress could technically count as a form of exercise, when a deep, philosophical voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Ah, Bruce. We need to talk.”
I turned my head slowly, expecting some forgotten existential crisis, but instead found myself staring at a cat. Not just any cat — a smug, overly confident, self-proclaimed guru of emotional intelligence: Marvin the "Mental Health Warrior" Cat.
Marvin’s faced his own share of struggles, and now he’s a full-fledged Mental Health Warrior — proudly carrying the title “The Mental Health Warrior Cat.”
Alongside his friends — Doug the "Depressed" Dog, Andy the "Anxious" Aardvark and Samantha the "Stressed-Out" Squirrel — Marvin’s made it his mission to spark real conversations about mental health after reading my book, I Triumphed Over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior.
And today, in his classic “I-know-better-than-you” tone that only a cat can pull off, Marvin was here to remind me of one essential first step:
Stop hiding from your emotions. Face them, feel them and own them — like a true Warrior.
The Warrior Solution
Marvin and his crew are more than just quirky companions — they’re friends who know my story.
For 20 years, I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD from my time as an EMT with the local rescue squad. Those struggles left me feeling so powerless that I tried to end my life. 💔
But in that dark time, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
With that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge — so you can take charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you really want!
The Marvin Warrior Approach
Marvin stretched luxuriously, flicking his tail like he had all the time in the world. “First, let’s address the obvious — you’ve been ignoring your emotions like a cat ignores a perfectly good scratching post in favor of your expensive couch.”
I sighed. “Marvin, I don’t ignore my emotions. I just… file them away for later.”
He tilted his head, unimpressed. “Bruce, emotions are involved in everything. Filing them away is like saying you’ll get around to breathing eventually. Not exactly a long-term success strategy.”
I stared at him. “That’s a terrible analogy.”
He sipped his espresso. “And yet, I’m not the one stress-sweating over gas prices and existential dread.”
I rubbed my temples. “Alright, let’s hear it. Why should we stop fearing emotions?”
Marvin’s whiskers twitched. “Because in your book, I Triumphed Over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior, you showed that ignoring emotions is about as effective as ignoring hunger. You can do it for a while — but eventually, it ends in poor choices and that same powerless feeling you fought to overcome.”
He smirked. “So, to make sure that doesn’t happen again, I’ve taken your lessons and created what I call the Marvin-Approved Three-Step Approach to Not Ignoring Emotions!
Step 1: Accept That Emotions Are In Everything
“Bruce, emotions aren’t optional. They’re like gravity — you may not like them, but they’re still running the show whether you acknowledge them or not.”
I frowned. “I mean, sure, emotions are part of life, but—”
Marvin raised a paw, silencing me with the kind of authority only a cat can pull off.
“No buts. Do you question your hunger before eating? Do you say, ‘Hmm, I’ll analyze this hunger later and pretend it’s not there for now’? No! You eat — immediately!”
I crossed my arms. “Okay, but—”
“But,” Marvin continued, flicking his tail, “people treat emotions like some optional side quest in a video game. Spoiler alert: emotions are NOT optional. They are the main storyline. Ignore them, and you’re just setting yourself up for a surprise boss fight later.”
Warrior Action for Today:
Marvin narrowed his eyes. “Step one, my dear emotionally avoidant friend: Admit emotions are everywhere. They’re in your thoughts, your actions, even your weird late-night cravings for snacks you don’t even like.
If you keep ignoring them, they’ll just come back louder — usually at the worst possible moment, like when you’re standing in the grocery store debating whether to manage your anxiety or bolt from the checkout line.”
And yeah… that hit home. Emotions are in everything!
Step 2: Embrace All Your Emotions
Marvin stretched dramatically. “Now that you admit emotions are everywhere, stop running from them like I run from the vacuum cleaner.”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t run from my emotions.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So when you feel overwhelmed, do you sit with that feeling, process it, and respond accordingly? Or do you bury yourself in work, doomscroll through social media and inhale snacks while insisting you’re fine?”
I opened my mouth, then shut it. “Okay, that was an unnecessary personal attack.”
Warrior Action for Today:
Marvin purred smugly. “You don’t avoid hunger — you eat. You don’t avoid sleep — you rest. So why avoid emotions? Running from them makes people spiral. Facing them head-on? That’s what makes a Mental Health Warrior strong.”
“Today’s action is simple but powerful: Pay attention.
When an emotion shows up, don’t shove it aside — acknowledge it. Ask yourself: What am I feeling right now? How is this emotion affecting my actions?
Learning to embrace your emotions and what they bring to the day — instead of ignoring them — is the first real step toward taking charge of your life.”
I smiled. “Alright, Marvin, what’s next on the path to Warrior strength?”
Step 3: Take Action With Your Emotions
Marvin stood up and began pacing like some kind of tiny, furry philosopher. “Bruce, you fought your way through Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD because you stopped letting them control you — and started taking charge of your emotions. That’s what being a Mental Health Warrior is all about!”
I nodded. “Yeah, I realized mental health was the key to overcoming any challenge. That’s why I built the program — to help everyone take charge of their emotions, so they no longer feel powerless.”
Marvin stopped pacing, sat down, and flicked his tail dramatically. “Exactly! Here’s the takeaway: Emotions are inevitable — but letting them control you is optional.”
Warrior Action for Today:
Marvin narrowed his eyes. “Alright, human. You have a mission. Pick one emotion you experienced today — and do something about it. Just one. No need to storm the castle yet; start small.”
“Were you frustrated? Take a deep breath and shake it off — maybe a walk, maybe screaming into a pillow (highly effective, by the way).
Feeling anxious? Try the ‘Swerve’ Warrior Tool and redirect that energy into something productive. The goal is simple: Don’t let emotions drive your day. YOU take the wheel.”
I grinned. “So, this is like you knocking things off tables just to get attention?”
Marvin smirked. “Exactly. Except I’m a cat — and I do it purely for sport. But the principle’s the same: You take charge of your emotions, you get better results.”
Wrap Up
Marvin finished his espresso in one dramatic gulp — exuding the energy of a cat who just knocked a priceless vase off a shelf and felt zero remorse.
“Bruce, you and I both know people spend way too much time fearing their emotions instead of managing them. If they put that same energy into understanding their emotions, they’d be unstoppable.”
I nodded. “So, what can we all do about it?”
Marvin flicked his tail like a seasoned professor delivering his final lecture. “Easy. Check out your book, I Triumphed Over Bipolar, Alcoholism, and Anxiety Disorder by Becoming a Mental Health Warrior, and learn to stop ignoring your emotions. Use the tools. Take charge of your life!
Be like me — a fearless, self-aware, emotionally intelligent force of nature.”
I chuckled. Wow, I thought, that cat is ridiculously smug — but annoyingly right.
So if you’re struggling, stop avoiding your emotions. Face them. Feel them. Use them. That’s how you THRIVE as a Mental Health Warrior!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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