Like a Magic 8-Ball with four fluffy legs and a highly-boopable nose, Noodle the 13-year-old pug dog has stolen my heart and earned full control over my mood for the day. The viral TikTok star, aka showmenoodz on Instagram, is owned by Jonathan Graziano, who turned the pup into an internet sensation after sharing a pre-potty time game they like to call "No Bones."
"Good morning, everyone, and welcome back to yet another round of 'No Bones,' the game where we find out if my 13-year-old pug woke up with bones, and as a result, we find out what kind of day we're going to have," Jonathan says at the beginning of most of his videos with Noodle. After greeting the camera, Jonathan carefully lifts Noodle out of his bed and attempts to stand him up on his two front legs. If Noodle stays standing, it's a "bones" day, aka the ultimate carpe diem signal.
"I can't believe it, you guys!" Jonathan said on a "bones" day. "Buy that lottery ticket, file that divorce, quit that job. Do whatever you were planning to do but were too scared to do. You have good luck for the rest [of the day.]" If Noodle falls over, it's a "no-bones" day, or the perfect excuse to cancel plans, take it easy, and have a chill 24 hours. So the game is basically like Groundhog Day but with our moods.
"We learned very early on that when he doesn't want to go on walkies, he will not go on walkies.""I adopted Noodle when he was seven and a half years old, and we learned very early on that when he doesn't want to go on walkies, he will not go on walkies," Jonathan said in a recent video, explaining the origin of the game. "And it's just [wild] to be able to share this with you guys and see the response. So I really appreciate it."
Noodle, who's amassed over 2.3 million TikTok followers so far, has had a pretty strong influence on people's frames of mind, inspiring some to write songs, quit their jobs, or seize new opportunities and share their experiences under #NoBones. Of course, having a "bones" day isn't inherently better than having a "no-bones day." It's all about making time to chase after your goals and give yourself a break when necessary, an important lesson passed on by a wise pup.
Next time you're checking the weather, you might also want to stop and ask yourself, "What kind of 'Bonesday' is it going to be?" For the answer, check out Jonathan and Noodle's videos (and more cute photos of the adorable pug) ahead.
