Power of Today: How Marvin the “Mental Health Warrior” Cat Uses Euphoria of Today
- Bruce Schutter
- Jun 25
- 4 min read
It was a sunny afternoon at the park, and I was doing what all emotionally well-balanced adults do during their break—chasing squirrels with my diet soda in hand. That’s when I spotted him. Marvin the "Mental Health Warrior" Cat.
Tail high, whiskers twitching, and eyes closed as he sat on a bench under a tree, doing what looked suspiciously like meditating. “Marvin?” I asked.
He opened one eye. “Oh hey, Bruce. I’m in the middle of my 15-minute mindfulness recharge. Want to join, or are you too busy chasing squirrels?”
Caught. But Fair Question.
I sat beside him, and he pointed to the open book next to him: Euphoria of Today.
“You wrote this, right?” he said, patting the cover with a paw. “Gotta admit—I thought it was about chasing butterflies in fields of emotional bliss. But turns out it’s about something way more powerful: the practice of “Mindfulness of Today” Or simply stated…. Pay attention to Today!
Marvin Knows My Story
Marvin, is part of the Mental Health Warrior tribe, and knows the journey. How I battled Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD for over 20 years—how I hit rock bottom and tried to end my life. But in that darkness, I discovered a truth that changed everything: Mental Health is the key to overcoming any challenge!
And 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, overcome challenges and build the life you really want!
Now Marvin’s using the program—and the book Euphoria of Today—to focus on today. He shared three ways he took action in TODAY and is reveling in the results!
Action 1: The 15-Minute Lunch Reset
“Every day, I give myself 15 minutes to unplug. No phone, no doomscrolling, just being present. I find a quiet spot, breathe, and let my thoughts land like butterflies instead of freight trains.”
“It clears the clutter,” Marvin said. “I stop carrying the emotional baggage of the morning and stop fearing the afternoon. It’s like hitting the litterbox reset button.”
This works (the reset not the litter box button) Because our brains aren’t built to run on chaos. Short mindfulness breaks pull us out of survival mode and into calm awareness—restoring clarity, calm, and control.
Our Turn:
I tried this the other day in a parking lot. No music. No email. Just breathing, enjoying the sunshine and reveling in the opportunity to not think for 15 minutes.
And guess what? My anxiety slowed, and I had a clearer head walking back to work. It works. Because the moment you stop reacting and start observing—you regain power.
Action 2: The “One-Worry-At -A-Time” Rule
“Here’s my new policy: I only worry about ONE thing at a time. That’s it. I pick my worry, put it a box with no other worries and give myself 15 minutes max to address the worry. After that—I take action.
Now that may sound rushed, but the idea is to not spend all day with the worry controlling me, but to pick a direction so that I can then take action, then adjust if needed and repeat.
“Because I used to worry about everything—the future, the catnip shortage, whether Eeyore was secretly judging me,” Marvin said. “Now? I’m in control.
Limiting worry time helps contain anxious spirals. When you acknowledge your fears without feeding them all day, you teach your brain to focus—and calm down.
Our Turn:
Try setting a “worry window.” Give yourself permission to feel anxious—but on your terms! Choose a set amount of time to think it through, then shift into action.
You’ll quickly realize most worries lose their power when they’re not on repeat.
Action 3: Mindful Wins Log
“Every night, I log one thing I did right. Just one. Some days it’s huge—like standing up for myself. Other days it’s, ‘I didn’t swipe a sandwich off Andy’s plate.’ Progress, not perfection.”
“This works because it shifts my focus from what went wrong to what went right,” Marvin explained. “That’s a big deal when you’re hard on yourself, like I am.”
Positive reflection rewires the brain for gratitude and motivation. Focusing on wins creates emotional momentum—fuel to keep going.
Our Turn:
Before bed, jot down or visualize one win from today. Big or small, it counts.
Over time let your list grow, building confidence and reminding yourself—you’re making progress, even on the hard days. That’s the power of “Mindfulness of Today”
Move Past the Past & Ditch Fear of the Future
Marvin closed the book gently and looked out at the trees. “You know, Bruce, I’ve spent a lot of time worried about what happened yesterday or what might happen tomorrow. But reading this helped me realize: today is all I really have. And today is where all the power lives.”
He swished his tail. “Now, instead of chasing mental squirrels through past regrets or future fears, I chase something real—Presence, Purpose, Progress.”
I nodded. “That’s the heart of Euphoria of Today. It’s not about ignoring the past or future—it’s about choosing to act today. Because today is the only place we can change our life.”
Wrap Up
As we stood to leave, I reached into my bag and pulled out a fresh copy of Euphoria of Today.
“Take this,” I said, handing it to Marvin. “Share it with the gang. They could all use a reminder that today is their superpower.”
Off he went—tail high, mindset sharper, ready to spread the message: TODAY isn’t just another day—it’s your day.
If you’re feeling stuck, remember this—Today is enough. Today is powerful. And when you embrace the Euphoria of Today, you give yourself permission to take action—and start building the life you really want.
Bruce Schutter
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