So we make it all up, throwing in a little Christianity, a little paganism, an oddly dressed fat guy and a year’s supply of butter, then we act like it’s written in stone. The expectations we build! Despite the fact that any grown person knows that expectations, even little ones, are not treated kindly by life.
Think about it. Which felt better and which ultimately paid off: working toward a raise, or expecting one? Hoping for calls from a suitor, or expecting them? Getting knocked flat by a wonderful gift, or expecting one?
Expectations don’t bring out the best in us, either. Our fondness for unrealistic, arbitrary or childish ones is what makes us snub a good guy if he’s short, hate a high-paying job if it’s boring, pout at our filet mignon. They’re roots for our uglier moments.
