Ever since I can remember, having things come to an end was something to be avoided. You’d never take the last of the milk, the cereal or the bread growing up. It was always to be seen as a selfless act to allow others to have that final piece or portion. But now other things bring trouble with the idea of nearing completion.

A common concern at the moment is with books or television shows. That final chapter, series or episode comes with a foreboding feel of absolute completion. That the time, effort and emotional attachment that came with the build-up to the completion, was seeming to be leading to a void being created.

Take Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix series After Life a genius mix of heartbreaking drama and genuine laugh out loud moments. Having ploughed through the first five episodes of the series yesterday morning, there is just one remaining. But it’s not been watched yet. Watching it would create a void, with the necessity of it being filled with the start of a new series to draw the mind into. There is a desire to find out how things fare for the characters, but the finality of not having further episodes to gain insight about them from provides a barrier. Being well aware that they are only characters in a fictional show makes this conundrum seem even stranger.

The same concerns come with books. Having invested time into 300 page novels, that final 20 page chapter indicates that the previous 280 have built to this climactic resolution. But doesn’t it also feel that those other 280 pages will be wasted when the final page is completed? Of course, everything builds to the end of the book and of course you are aware that the book has to finish at some point. But the finality of it provides the issue.

Finding something you enjoy, like or love, means that it’s something you want to continue with, but the ending of specific things that you enjoy, like or love may not necessarily be within your control. Yes you can read or watch other things, but finding the thing that you want to be engaging with provides the challenge. If we knew we had more to enjoy following the completion of another book or series then that void could be avoided. But what if those tailored recommendations are not accurate? What if you find that you take on board other people’s views relating to what to read or watch next, but then find that that time is wasted?

Time is a precious commodity after all, so is it sometimes better to avoiding the ending of things, by not starting them at all?