"Anticipation vs Expectation"

As I get older I find that I don't anticipate as much as I did when I was younger, and that's a shame. Half the fun of life is looking forward to what is going to happen. A lot of times when things actually happen they are a disappointment, but anticipation never is.

I think that is why I like the "Previews of Coming Attractions" at the movies. The movies, no matter how sorry they are actually going to be, always look good. The storyline looks good, the comic scenes look hilarious, the stars look rugged and beautiful. It all looks fantabulous.

I have been a fan of anticipation from the earliest age. I always liked waiting for the postman to arrive because I never knew what he would bring. I was even that way about the phone ringing. You never knew who would be on the other end. I even liked anticipating Christmas, even more than I liked Christmas Day. The presents never lived up to what I expected - and that is where the bad word comes in. Expectation.

There is a lot of difference between "expectation" and "anticipation." Anticipation can make you happy while expectation can kill you. When you expect something to be great and then it gets there, it usually isn't. Or not as great as you expected.

I remember one of the first girls I dated. I mean I had wanted to date her for ages but couldn't get up the nerve to ask her out. Finally I did and we set the date for a Friday night. The anticipation of that date was wonderful. My expectations for that date were high. When it got there and I actually went on the date, it was no big thing. I actually couldn't figure out why I thought it was going to be. My expectations had done me in again.

A week ago I went to Biloxi for a few days. I had a great time. I had expected to have fun and I did. But the anticipation about going on the trip was even better. For days before I left I thought about what a good time I was going to have. I even dreamed about maybe winning a big jackpot and coming home a wealthy man. The night before I left I was so excited I couldn't sleep. Now that is great anticipation.

While I was there I didn't win a jackpot but I did have a good time. I enjoyed playing the slots and eating the buffets. But you know what I also enjoyed? I enjoyed the anticipation of coming home and seeing my wife again. There it was, anticipation about going, and anticipation about coming home. 

I don't want to lose my joy of anticipation. I want it to be with me till I die. Now I have learned to scale down my expectations and I am happier for it. Things are just never as great as you think they are going to be so you need to practice scaling down what you expect. Honestly, it is a good thing to do.

So as I go along in my life I am going to learn to anticipate with greater enthusiasm, and expect with less. It is a lesson in life that I have learned and it applies to us all, rich and poor alike.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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