Cautionary tales

Expectations are strange creatures.

They heighten the anticipation of events as we imagine and re-imagine what is going to happen.

They can be like an echo chamber for fears, allowing them to roll over us again and again, growing, maiming, fooling us into thinking we are working hard when we are only imagining what we might do if there even is a problem.

Or we can already find ourselves basking in the light of something that hasn't occurred.  I find this one a little bit iffy, because maybe imagining the best will help me bring it about, but maybe I am just setting myself up for a huge disappointment.

I guess if I have to err on one side or the other, the positive approach is less stressful in the long run if I can let go of the disappointment should it arise.

But the sad truth is that expectations can mar what was a perfectly wonderful day by imagining just one small detail, and when that does not occur, it ruins the whole day for me.

Who wants to do that?