Great Expectations

We are raised to define our expectations. The society tell us to list down, one by one and as clear as possible, all that we want to get out of life, of people, of ourselves. This is not necessarily a bad idea, I think. A couple of fundamental pillars that will serve as lighthouses - that shining bright light like pieces of glittering diamonds. Such that when you're in darkness or when you think you have lost your way, all you need to do is look up and there are your lighthouses. However, expectations, when drawn out rigidly as if it is carved in stone, are lethal. More than that, they are crippling and in the end, can cause severe pain. To expect more from people is even worse - but people do not always deliver. People are limited. People cannot be controlled, except those who are really stupid, then you can by all means control them. But, when set face to face with interesting people - those who have mad ideas, infinite curiosity, and multifarious visions, there is no way to expect from them not because they will never deliver but, and this is crucial, because you will never know what, when, how, and why they deliver - but they do. It is just not what you are expecting but perhaps better. We all have expectations - but to avoid unnecessary pain, this is something that we should be mindful about. I'd rather be post-modern on this: expectations are not real, they change and they flicker, nothing is real.