“Just reach for the stars if it feels right.” – Maroon 5 Moves Like Jagger.
All of my life people have been managing my expectations. My parents had to, bless them. My family helped me believe in magic, so I was a little girl who wanted the moon and was very VERY unhappy when she didn’t get it. I had lists. Lists of how things were going to go, how I wanted them to go and what I needed to do or pack or accomplish to get there.
I still make lists.
At school, the teachers didn’t know what to do with the girl who believed in magic. I wanted to be the lead in every play. I wanted to get gold stars and best-in-classes. It wasn’t because that was necessarily the smart thing to do, but because those things were the best possible outcome.
Magic.
So they managed my expectations. Frankly, I still needed a little managing then. A little.
But the problem is that at 39, people are continuing to attempt to manage my expectations. People who have no business in my business.
Why?
Why is it wrong to want the magical? The mystical? The delightful? The perfect? The divine?
Which would you rather: a) expect the ordinary and be happy when you get it or b) expect magic and miracles and be happy when something wonderful happens? (P.S. You are big enough now to deal with whatever happens.)
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land amongst the stars.” Brian Littrell said that. But Brian, with all due respect, I disagree. I have operated on managed expectations for 39 years now and I have to say, it’s not enough for me.
I expect magic. I expect miracles. I don’t want to shoot for the moon anymore. It’s “second star to the right and straight on ’til morning” for me.
And to everyone who wants me to be practical or rational or who wants to explain to me why I shouldn’t want more?
Thank you for caring so much. But from now on my expectations will be managed by me.
I love you.
But I’ve got this.
x
