Renowned British filmmaker Stephen Frears is well-known for his perceptive and frequently humorous observations on daily life. During one of his interviews, he related a story about how much he detests taking business flights. Frequent flyer miles are meant to be a benefit for business travelers, but Frears clarified that they have instead turned into a harsh reminder of the unrelenting㳢。

Consider frequent flyer miles as tokens in a game where each token represents a trip you took because it was necessary for your job, not because you wanted to travel or see new places. These tokens may initially appear valuable because they symbolize accomplishments and hard work. The accumulation of these tokens, however, can eventually become burdensome and demoralizing, much like gathering stones in your backpack while climbing a mountain.

The sentiment expressed by Frears is representative of a larger group of professionals who travel regularly for work. Those who depend heavily on flights to carry out their work obligations bear the heavy personal costs of air travel, even though it has surely made the world more accessible and connected. One's mental health and general well-being can suffer from the strain of frequent travel, jet lag, and being away from home.

Frears emphasizes the irony that these benefits frequently turn into a burden rather than a benefit by voicing his contempt for accruing frequent flyer miles. It seems as though the system was created to reward people who are always on the go while ignoring the emotional toll that this takes.

This viewpoint serves as a moving reminder of the value of work-life balance and the necessity for employers to take their workers' welfare into account, particularly when travel is a major component of their job. It also challenges us to consider what real success might entail, which may be less about earning points and more about finding fulfillment in worthwhile endeavors.