Member-only story
There’s a reason why we arbitrarily elevate ordinary items to super-special status
Many years ago, I came across this anecdote:
There once was a woman who wished more than anything to go on a Mediterranean cruise. For years, she scrimped and saved until finally, she was able to afford a ticket.
While on the cruise, she abstained from partaking in the ship’s many activities. She enviously watched the other passengers eat and drink at the well-stocked buffets. She intended to treat herself to one nice meal, but she couldn’t decide on which meal to indulge.
At the trip’s conclusion, as she was disembarking, the captain asked her if she had enjoyed herself. She had a wonderful time, the woman explained. She just wished she could have indulged in all the food and amenities. The captain looked at her with surprise and exclaimed, “Those were all included in your ticket!”
This story stuck with me for years. I don’t even remember the intended lesson behind this anecdote. All I could think was, “Wow, that sucks. She should have read the fine print.” The whole thing seemed unnecessarily tragic.
