Biscuit gets jealous pretty easily. Usually because whatever Peanut has is obviously better than whatever he has (he thinks). So if they each have a toy, a dental chew, or a Nylabone, it isn’t long before Biscuit decides Peanut’s must be better than his, so he wants hers. Even if they have two Nylabones that are identical.
So he abandons his bone and steals hers. Peanut, who seems to recognize they are the same, doesn’t mind and just picks up the one he abandons. Then Biscuit, who is happily chewing on his prize, sees that Peanut has his original, and decides that one must be better. And on and on the cycle goes, Peanut picking up the abandoned item and Biscuit always vying for what he perceives as the best one.
The thing is that it doesn’t just inconvenience Peanut. It makes for a less pleasant experience for Biscuit. As long as Peanut is playing or chewing, he is constantly trading off, trying to get the better item, and not enjoying his treat. In fact, on one occasion when I accidentally dropped three pieces of cheese, Peanut ended up getting all three pieces because Biscuit refused to look at the ones I was pointing out to him, focusing instead on trying (and failing) to take each piece after Peanut had gotten it.
Sometimes we aspire to more wealth, more fame, more status. Usually this is because we’ve seen someone with it and we want what they have. It must be better than what we have. But the problem is we end up in a cycle just like Biscuit. Always seeing something better, and never appreciating what we already have.
What about you? What comparison games keep you from enjoying what you have?
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