Disappointment:n 1) a feeling of dissatisfaction that results when your expectations are not realized; 2) an act (or failure to act) that disappoints someone.
After having a conversation with a friend this weekend, I realized that I was disappointed without even realizing that I had expectations. It gave me pause. In order to be disappointed, one must have expectations. Was I really disappointed in the actions of my friend or was I disappointed in my expectations? Then I wondered: was I disappointed that my expectations for this person were too low or too high? To me, the expectations of acceptable behavior for this person were fairly low, or at least I had thought they were low. But now I think perhaps they might have been too high in the situation. Who am I to say what is acceptable behavior. Just because I abhor certain behavior doesn't necessarily mean that a behavior isn't right for others. Perhaps I shouldn't be holding people up to the same level of standards as I have. Hmm. Something to think about. Hopefully I hid my disappointment well.
1 comment:
It's hard to hold those we love to lower standards than we ourselves hold. It feels like our values should rub off and they should understand as we do . . . but life doesn't always work as if "should", does it?
-Alison
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