Why Humans Are Complicated Creatures (And Why Animals Might Just Be Better at Keeping Promises)

Tails Don’t Lie

We live with our dog, Yogi, who made us name him after his demeanor. So, when I say I know who’s better at living, man or beast, I know what I’m talking about. It has to be the beast, because Yogi seems to be absolutely killing it. He doesn’t keep promises because he can’t speak, but he sure does live more consistently with who he is.

Seriously, let’s get real for a second. We humans are a glorious, chaotic mess. We’ve built civilizations, composed symphonies, and even found a way to figure out what’s on the moon and Mars. But when it comes to something as simple as keeping a promise? We’re biting the dust. I swear on my dog’s wagging tail on this one.  😂

Let’s unpack what makes humans so beautifully, frustratingly complex – and why animals might just be the uncomplicated, reliable beings we secretly wish we could be. 

1. Humans: The Overthinkers of the Animal Kingdom

Here’s the thing about humans: we’re cursed with the gift of thought. Damn it, we can even think about thinking. We even have a word for it: meta cognition. The problem is while we can dream up entire worlds, plan out future things that don’t even exist, we also spend hours debating if pineapple should go on pizzas. It’s a crime and anyone who disagrees can fight me. 

Anyway, thanks to their simpler neural networks, animals have been given a strange gift. They get to live in the moment, blissfully unaware of existential dread or the crushing weight of unread emails. Yogi can get excited about the same exact piece of dog biscuit 10 different times within a span of 1 minute. I envy his simple brain.

And here’s the other thing. We make promises – to ourselves, to others, to the universe – and then, well, life happens. We get distracted, overwhelmed, or just plain lazy. Yogi, on the other hand, is happy to see me, and it doesn’t matter to him if I’m having slacking off or having a productive day. He like Griffin, our cat, would just be chilling as long as they have their corner on the couch and no one’s bothering them. 

2. Emotional Roller Coasters vs. Animal Simplicity

Humans are emotional powerhouses. We literally can feel a myriad of emotions and still keep thriving. Animals feel emotions too, they just don’t complicate things with midlife crises or existential spirals.

Take social belonging, for example. Humans will pay good money to ride roller coasters or binge-watch horror movies just to feel something. Animals? They’re content with the basics – food, shelter, and sunbathing. Why can’t we simplify our needs and not constantly feel the need to keep up with the Kardashians?

3. The Dual Reality of Being Human

Humans live in two worlds: the one we can see and touch, and the one we create in our heads. We build stories, myths, and entire economies around things that don’t physically exist. I was sooo not talking about Bitcoin LOL

Animals, on the other hand, are firmly rooted in the present. They don’t worry about their legacy, their likes, or if they’re more successful than their friends. They’re just out here surviving and thriving, and not getting carried away in hypothetical scenarios about life. 

4. Parenting: Humans vs. the Animal Kingdom

Here’s where things get wild. Humans are born helpless and stay so for a long time after birth. “Parenting” is a concept that’s almost nonexistent in the animal kingdom. 

A baby giraffe can stand within hours of birth, while a human baby can’t even hold up its own head. Of course, part of it is evolutionary. Because our big, beautiful brains need time to develop outside the womb. But also because as parents we have made it our duty to nurture our human children well into their 20’s. 

Frogs lay eggs and peace out. Fish do the same. Raising children means so much of juggling responsibilities, expectations, and constant uncertainty. Somewhere in the chaos of it all, promises quietly slip through the cracks.

Final Thoughts: Embrace Your Inner Animal

Now, back to my original point. Animals might just be better at keeping promises. And that’s possible because they keep things simple.

Humans are undeniably unique. We’re creative, emotional, and endlessly complex. But sometimes, it’s worth stepping back and taking stock of how far we’ve come and narrow down our focus to a few important things.

A dog will always be loyal, a cat will always be aloof, and a duck will always paddle furiously beneath the surface, even if it looks calm on top. They are simply doing their duty of being and not constantly doing and being somebody else.

Maybe that’s the real promise we humans struggle to keep.

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