206 | Counting Days

A change that helps you quit counting days is better than a raise.

Because counting the days until you can quit is the bouncer at the door turning meaning and purpose away so the need for "just a little more" can stay.

There's no question that a bonus or a raise, especially the first one, is one of the sweeter feelings in the world.

Validation. Affirmation. Freedom. Lots of feelings that add to the sweetness.

It’s so sweet, that our attention can't help but move to the next one.

One that is barely less sweet than the one before - the taste buds likely don't notice.

But over time, the sweet has a way of fading or even growing bitter...

Especially once it's nothing more than the scissors that cut another link off the retirement paper chain.

We'll never be able to measure it, but the downsides of counting days can't be offset by a raise.