Let me tell you a story about how cat GIFs saved my life.

Okay, I exaggerate a bit. But cat gifs did save one of the longest, hardest days of my life. (And tbh, this day kinda sounds like a typical finals week day for many college students.)

It was an afternoon in my fifth week at a ballet intensive with AAB. Rehearsals piled up around me, and sleep was a thing of the past. Emotions decided to go haywire, and determination thinned. I just wanted to nap, but instead, I drank watered-down, black coffee from the morning and lay on a hard couch for ten minutes to regroup before another rehearsal.

What did I do during those ten minutes? Well, I say without shame that I cried. And then I prayed. And then I looked at cat gifs.

And that, my friends, saved the day. Crying. Praying. Cat GIFs.

I believe that a good cat gif can lighten any day (even a finals day). What's not to love about prideful and sophisticated creatures making fools of themselves? How can you resist a kitten falling asleep in three seconds? If cat GIFs don't make you smile, then... well, I'm not sure if you should read the rest of this post. Because I'm about to lighten up your day.

Today, in the midst of finals, holidays, and midterms, let's smile in the simple grace of silliness and cats. Let's giggle a bit at how God created humor in the shape of little balls of furr.

I present... the cat GIFs.

1. Can't touch this (do-do-do-do do-do do-do)

2. Furry-go-round

3. Taking off in three, two...

4. *Insert sigh of happiness*

5. Trying to figure our a password like

6. When life takes an unexpected direction

7. If it fits, it ships

8. When you see a roach

9. When you accidentally drink sprite instead of water

10. My precious

11. Stepping into an authoritative position

12. When someone catches you staring

13. Just smile and wave, smile and wave

14. I drive a ram

15. What are friends for?

16. When someone copies your vibe

17. Talk to the paw

18. Chase your dreams, they said

19. Just watch this 10,000x

20. Fitting into last year's jeans like...

21. When finals interrupts your holiday spirit

Well, if you died laughing, you now know what it is to be alive. With the happiness of cat GIFs, you can now face any day, including finals.

May the force of your laughter from cat GIFs be with you.