The Laundry Lesson

We wanted to be adults so bad. I mean, who doesn’t remember those wide-eyed dreams of independence—the freedom to eat cereal for dinner, stay up late, and buy all the soda we wanted without anyone telling us “no”? We thought adulthood was a ticket to the good life. Now look at us: stressed, broke, tired, and downright excited when the laundry’s folded.

There I was the other morning, standing in front of the washer and dryer, feeling a curious kind of triumph. Buddy was nearby, sprawled out, giving me the look of someone who wasn’t sure if he should celebrate or hope I’d share some of that freshly folded sock magic.

You see, laundry is one of those chores that sneaks up on you, especially when you’re juggling work, family, and the constant hum of everyday life. It piles up faster than you expect, and suddenly you’re staring down a mountain of shirts, socks, and whatever that mystery sock-less sock was doing under the couch.

But this time, instead of grumbling like I usually do, I paused. I took satisfaction in crossing that task off my list.

It wasn’t just about clean clothes—it was a small victory in a day that otherwise felt a bit out of control. I found myself smiling at the simple rhythm of life—sort, wash, dry, fold.

It felt oddly grounding.

Later that night, I poured myself a glass of straight whiskey—not the polite little sips, but the kind that warms your bones and clears your mind a bit. Buddy gave me the side-eye, wondering why humans make things so complicated.

I told him, “Sometimes, buddy, it’s the little things. A clean shirt, a full tank of gas, a good dog by your side—that’s what keeps the wheels turning.”

Then, I thought about how many of us are chasing things—better jobs, bigger houses, more stuff. And in that chase, we forget to celebrate the small wins, the quiet moments where things are working just enough for us to breathe a little easier.

The solution, I realized, isn’t to sweat every little stressor or dream up some grand overhaul of life. No, it’s about breaking the day down to manageable pieces. Like laundry: don’t let it pile up until it’s a mountain. Wash a load. Fold a load. Celebrate it. Then do it again tomorrow.

I know it sounds simple, but sometimes simple is what we need. I shared this thought with a friend the next day, someone who was feeling overwhelmed by work and family demands. He laughed and said, “Tom, maybe I need to start folding my laundry with a little more joy.”

That’s the spirit. Life’s not going to slow down for us. The bills, the meetings, the endless to-do list—they’ll keep coming. But if we can find little anchors—small victories to remind us we’re handling it—it makes the weight lighter.

So, when you face that next chore, the annoying task, try seeing it as a small win rather than just a thing to get over with. Celebrate the little victories—clean laundry, a hot cup of coffee, a smile from your dog or a friend.

Those are the moments that build a life worth living. And if that feels like too much today, then start with folding your socks, pouring yourself a real drink, or telling your dog he’s the best.

Tomorrow, try another.

We wanted to be adults, alright, but maybe being an adult means learning how to celebrate the small stuff. And that’s not so bad after all.