Too Familiar

(Pub talk with an old friend)

“We all know that saying – familiarity breeds contempt. But a new take on it I heard the other day is familiarity comes with diminishing returns.

“Yeah, I know, that’s sort-of the same thing. But the example this chap was giving was about work. What he was saying is that … hang on, let me get the numbers right.

“Yeah, he said seven four day weeks at work can make you happier than six five day weeks and a week off at the end of them.

“And thinking about it, I can see that might be right. You know – you even end up getting a bit jaded on a holiday sometimes, like, after a few days. So yeah, that might be right.

“The other thing he said was you’ve got to use your extra day wisely each week. Otherwise they end up as just whizzing by like any other.

“And that makes sense too I think. I guess you have to put a bit of effort in to make the most of things.

“I suppose it’s sort of like that other saying, you know: you’ll be a long time dead. And like they say, no-one’s ever died wishing they’d spent more time at work.”