Expectations. Is it worth having any?

Gutted! We planned to go an exhibition today. We said we’d go out and have lunch, and then go to the exhibition at 2 p.m. This would give us plenty of time as it closed at 5 p.m.

What happened in reality was that my friend needed a haircut. He didn’t really factor it in or tell me about it so we didn’t get to the exhibition until about 4:00 p.m. The man that was staffing it needed to close early so we were asked to leave at 4:40 p.m. No treat in terms of lunch. Exhibition not completed! Disappointment.

There are so many things that people don’t have, yet I’m bothered about this. Well…it’s all about expectation of course! I’d wanted to go and see it for over 2 weeks, when will I go now? etc. etc. etc.

Then comes the comparison. When my mate wants to do something he makes sure it happens. I try and make sure I don’t let him down. If something means a lot to him I’ll make sure I attend. This goes for my close friends in general actually, not just this one!

So this time it was something I wanted to do, something I planned, something I was looking forward to! But it didn’t happen. The thing is, I don’t usually have any preferences re doing stuff. I don’t usually get my hopes up about doing specific things. Also after you remove the things I struggle to do because of my back, there’s less choice anyway and then; I just don’t mind! The day you do then want something, you expect it to happen because you usually don’t express a preference! It doesn’t work that way does it?

So it’s better to not want, to not hope, to not expect. Then you can’t be disappointed right?

Can you think of any other examples of expectations that most of us have?

• Others saying thanks for things that we do. Should we expect it or just accept it if it’s given?
• Punctuality
• Gifts for certain occasions and not just any old gift, it has to be to a specific standard or be worth a certain amount
• For friends and family to be pro-active if something is wrong with their health. Find out what it is, ask questions, and seek treatment.
• To pass exams
• To speak quietly
• To speak slowly
• To give me a lift
• To keep your shoes off seats on the tube
• To eat with your mouth closed
• To eat quietly
• To throw your gum in the bin
• To invite me if you celebrate
• To understand

Humans are so complex and want so much. Do we make our own lives difficult?