Noodle the Pug Brings the Dog Version of 'Spoon Theory' to TikTok

Noodle the pug is the new oracle of our times. Every day, on social media, you can find out if this 13-year-old pug is having a bones day, which means he is able to stand up, therefore making it a good day. No bones days happen when Noodle just refuses to do anything other than flop over, indicating that the day won’t be the greatest.

Noodle is more than just a cute predictor of how good your day will be. Anyone with a disability or a chronic illness can relate to Noodle. Noodle is basically the dog version of the spoon theory. There are some days that are just more difficult than others. There are some days where we can stand and some days where we can’t get out of our bed. Unlike Noodle, humans are judged much more harshly when they have days where they can’t function at their highest level.

I have what I consider very few spoons. Being autistic can take a lot out of you. I constantly have to mask, deal with all the overwhelming stimuli around me, and work on social relationships that confuse me every second of the day. I don’t get a break from my autism. It pervades every aspect of my life. There are days where like Noodle, I have bones or spoons. I am able to go out in the world and complete the tasks necessary to live. I can write, run errands, and generally function. I also have a lot of no-bones days. I get overwhelmed very easily and the few spoons I possess can very quickly run out. Those days, I tend to have a lot of meltdowns. It is very hard for me to do anything more than sit on the couch and cry. I often go non-verbal during these days, which is incredibly scary for me.

Those of us who have few spoons aren’t always listened to. We are expected to do our best no matter what and anything less is a show of weakness. I had days where I would have to drag myself to work, incredibly burnt out. All I would want to do is crawl under my desk and rock. Instead, I had to mask my agony and pretend that nothing was wrong. My spoons would be in the negative and I would always pay the price later. But I didn’t have a choice. I had proven that I could act like a “normal” person and therefore had to live up to that expectation.

People seem to empathize much more with Noodle than humans that struggle on a day-to-day basis. I get that it is easier to do that. I like dogs way more than I like people. But we should take the empathy and love for Noodle and apply it to the humans around us. If someone is having a rough day or doesn’t seem like themselves, consider the fact that maybe it’s a no bones day for that person and don’t judge them. Noodle can be more than just a cute puppy that tells you your luck for the day. We should use him as a blueprint for how to treat the people around us.

@jongrazplan your day accordingly ???????????? ##nobones ##bonesday ##noodletok ##pug♬ original sound – Jonathan