Great Expectations
A wise man once said, “Hold no expectations, for then you can never be disappointed.”

If you think about that statement for a while you’ll see that it’s pretty much true. Disappointments arise when something that you expect or hope never arrive. While following the above philosophy would indeed lead to fewer disappointments, I also believe that it would leave to a rather cold, harsh and unfulfilling life.

We need something that we can take comfort in. People are creatures of habit, used to some sort of routine. I, for example, follow the same basic routine in the mornings. I wake up, turn off my alarm, feed my cats, make my tea, take a shower, eat breakfast, get to work and read my email. Rarely does any of that actually change. The only fluctuations are when I arrive at work and what I have for breakfast. For the most part, it’s day in, day out.

I myself have some basic expectations. When I pick up the phone, I expect to hear a dialtone. When I come home from work, I expect to see my cats waiting by the door for me. When I get into work in the morning, I expect to read certain emails. And when someone tells me that they’re going to do something, I expect that they do it. It upsets me when these things do not happen, especially the last. I expect promises to be kept.

I’ve always believed that if you don’t intend on doing something, then don’t say you will.