My dog's butt collapsed...

I go for a walk with Goofy pretty much every day. But the time I go depends on the season.

In the winter, I usually go in the afternoon, right after my post-lunch coma (a.k.a. nap). But in the summer it's too hot for Goofy since he stubbornly resists to take his fur coat off.

That means I have to go with him first thing in the morning, which is about 7 AM for me, when the air is still cool. And so that's what I've been doing the last couple of weeks.

However, the other day I was busy sleeping in and then working on my secret project (which is not so secret anymore since I already told you that I'm working on a website). So it wasn't until 10 AM that I finally took Goofy on our usual hiking path.

That's when, halfway through, his butt collapsed.

It had been cloudy and not steaming hot yet. So I thought he'd be fine. And fortunately, he was. Still, he had plopped down his butt in the shade, panting, and wasn't ready to just keep soldiering on. He needed a rest.

After a little while, he was ready to move on.

Until his butt collapsed again.

So we took another break and only then continued, slowly, trying to stay in the shade as much as possible.

All in all, we had to make about six rest stops, even though we usually sprint through the hills without a single break.

Now, I don't know why so many of us are so much harder on ourselves than on others. When my dog needs a break, I let him have one. But when I myself need a break, my first instinct is to strap on some riding spurs and kick myself.

That damn hustle culture has indoctrinated me too... :(

So here's a lesson: treat yourself like a dog. Because you, like a dog, need walks, play, food, naps, rest, and love too.

And this week I'm trying to apply that lesson to myself. I acknowledge that I was already busy enough with my secret project and ongoing studying of marketing that it would be totally fine if I just publish one comic. And so that's what I did and I’m not even feeling guilty :)

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Comics (and accompanying thoughts) I’ve published this week:

• This Is How I Overcame the Hardest Day of my Life

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David B. Clear (cartoonist/writer) @davidbclear

I've always called my parents by their first name. And it always made sense to me. Imagine if at a children's party with hundreds of kids and parents I were to cry "MOOOOOMMYYYY!" Who's supposed to jump up? Will no one feel responsible and come?! OMG! Better use their name!!!

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Thanks for reading!

— David