The "Pop Out for an Hour" Lie We Tell Ourselves (and Our Pets!)
Alright, fellow pet parents, let's get real for a second. We all know that heart-wrenching moment. You're heading out the door, bag in hand, keys jingling, and there they are: your furry (or feathery, or scaly) overlord, giving you the full-on "How dare you leave me?!" stare.
You lean down, give them a thousand kisses, promise them you'll be back "in just a little while," maybe even whisper a sweet "don't miss me too much, okay?" You tell yourself it's for their kibble fund, for their fancy new squeaky toy, for that ridiculously expensive vet check-up. You're strong. You're independent. You can do this.
You make it to work. You settle in. Maybe you even start a task. But then, a flicker. A memory of those sad eyes. A sudden overwhelming urge to... well, just not be there. The coffee tastes bland, your emails look like hieroglyphs, and the only thing you can truly focus on is the mental image of your beloved companion waiting patiently by the door.
And then it happens. That internal monologue goes something like: "Wait, did I leave the window open? Is their water bowl full enough? What if they're lonely? What if they think I'm never coming back?!" The excuses start piling up faster than discarded treat wrappers. "I just need to grab something!" "I forgot an important document!" "My lunch... yes, my lunch is at home!"
And before you know it, you're back. Sprinting through the door, maybe a mere hour or two after you left, shouting "I'M HOME!" with the enthusiasm of someone who's just won the lottery. And there they are, ears perked, tail wagging, probably looking at you like, "Oh, you again? Took you long enough."
Let's be honest, our work-life balance often looks less like a scale and more like a seesaw, with our pets always tipping it firmly in their favor. And you know what? We wouldn't have it any other way. Because sometimes, the most important meeting of the day is the one you have with a wagging tail or a purring headbutt.
Original article that inspired this post:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUrEUmIEp0P/