Expectations
An expectation is a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. I believe there is no other day on the calendar that expectations are so high and dashed hopes are more realized. This is mostly on the side of women.
Women’s Expectations
This is the Man…
Expectations
Let’s go back to the original definition from the Oxford Dictionary: a strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. In our minds, we envision what we want and expect it to be that way.
Reality
The reality is that most people will be disappointed on some level when the day is all done. Why? Because their expectations were not met.
How NOT to be Disappointed
I created a graphic that will help you. It is the true definition of love.
If we don’t expect anything, we won’t be disappointed. When we give without expecting anything in return, there’s no room for disappointment or anger.
I’m sure this wasn’t the blog you expected to read for Valentine’s Day. But it’s what you need to hear. Do you want roses? Either say so or buy them yourself. You want dinner at a fancy restaurant? Don’t expect it, say you’d like to do it – IF the finances are there to do so. Be open about where you want to go, too.
I remember one year many, many years ago when my husband splurged and took me to an expensive romantic German Restaurant. I had never been to a true German restaurant. He had spent a couple years in Germany when he was in the service. He loved German food. I don’t like German food. Never did, and still don’t. I just don’t like the flavor profiles. But I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t disappointed in a missed expectation. I saw that he wanted to give me a beautiful evening. I knew that he wanted to share his love of real German food with me. And I tried to like it, but just didn’t like it. We had a beautiful evening. We were together. That’s what mattered. (As a way to enjoy foods he liked, I redoubled my efforts to learn how to make traditional Polish food – food that he grew up eating and was totally foreign to me, too. Those were flavors I did like. That was a way to show love to him.)
Want to learn more about true love? Check out a blog I did a couple years ago: “What Is Love
Happy Valentine’s Day.