Cognitive Bias #4: Loss Aversion

On June 3, 2024, I lost one of the most steadfast presences in my life. Max the cat was 20 years old, and I loved him deeply. For good reason. He’d outlasted my marriage, made homes with me in many different cities, walked with me through a few different jobs.

I knew he wasn’t, but he kinda seemed immortal.

Until he wasn’t. After he died, a friend of mine—someone who cares deeply for me, despite how callous this next line might sound—said,

This is why I never want pets. Getting a pet always means you’re automatically signing up for grief.

In this week’s post, I explore that line—why it makes sense, why we’re so averse to loss.

And why that leads to worse decisions.

Read more on Medium (for free) here.

Or, if you’re willing to throw $0.12 my way, read it with a Medium account here (and toss me those 50 claps, and I’ll be your friend forever)