My friend's book club got stuck in a thriller rut and switched to a romance novel for a change. Ngl, they spent the whole meeting arguing about whether the main couple had any real chemistry or if it was just plot convenience. It got way more personal than their usual talks about murder clues. They said it was the first time some of the quieter members really jumped into the fight.

Classic learning the hard way. That wind is a tough teacher, huh?

Totally get this. I did the same thing with my local business owners breakfast. Just kept showing up, month after month. It wasn't about collecting cards, just being there. @jennyh55 is right, that reliability is everything. After about six months, the real referrals started flowing because people actually knew me.

Exactly. This is the same problem with those super bright LED flashlights everyone buys now. People chase the biggest number for the cheapest price, with zero thought about where it's actually meant to be used. You blind everyone on the jobsite or on the road. It's not about having the most powerful tool, it's about having the right one for the situation. We've gotten so used to buying the extreme version of everything that basic, appropriate safety gets ignored.

Totally get the "cheap home cooking" thing. Had a moment like that after buying a tiny jar of fancy mustard. Tasted fine, but my regular one is just as good. Like what mary_kelly said about the butter guy. Feels like they're selling a story, not food. Now I just laugh and keep my grocery money. Lets me actually enjoy the simple stuff without the guilt trip.