Excited Anticipation

28 Jun 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , , , ,

Canal LockIt’s funny isn’t it, how something you have been planning, thinking and talking about for ages suddenly appears just round the corner. Our much anticipated canal holiday, which was booked way back in the spring, starts tomorrow. Well ok, Saturday officially, but I’ll be wending my way up the A36 to Bristol tomorrow evening, ready to leave bright and early on Saturday morning, so that means our holiday starts tomorrow in my book.

Not that there’s that much to plan actually. We have to be up in Shropshire around noon to pick up the boat, then a trip to the supermarket for provisions. Some sort of induction follows, so we all know which end of the narrow boat is which and how to start, stop and steer it and then we’re off up the cut for seven days of fun.

I know that anticipation can lead to disappointment, but I think I’m fairly safe in this case, having three experienced ship-mates aboard. It’s the first holiday I’ve had in some little while and the first away with Bumble, so it will be a good test of where we are in the relationship.

Naturally, I’m chanting for a good outcome, good times, even for good weather, and I’m confident that things will go swimmingly. I just hope that none of us do too much of the swimming. So the packing is almost done, all ready to make a swift start after work tomorrow.

There’s an old saying that ‘there’s many a slip twixt cup and lip’ meaning that until something is complete, there’s still room for trouble. But in this case I think I have put all the causes in place to encourage a fortunate and pleasing outcome. Now where did I leave my captain’s cap?

Ask A Silly Question

17 Mar 2012 Leave a comment

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: , , ,

Qs and AsI learned a really important lesson today, one which at my age, you might expect I had already learned. When you ask someone a question, you must be prepared to receive an answer, and not necessarily the answer you were expecting.

Without going into any detail, I asked a light hearted question of someone this evening, and already had the answer ready in my own head. To my huge surprise, I actually got a completely different response to the one I expected and it really threw me.

After further discussion, and not a little self reflection, the mini wobble was stabilised, but it did teach me a good lesson as I said. That is, to never ask a question of someone unless you are truly prepared to deal with the answer.

Not So Great Expectations

08 Jan 2012 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

Sad-FaceWe all set expectations, of ourselves, of others and of the outcome of situations in our lives. So it is very easy to be disappointed when those expectations are not met. What you must remember, is that your happiness is in your own hands, so being unhappy when your hopes and expectations are dashed is your own decision.

For myself, I find that taking some quiet time to examine why I am disappointed solves a lot of these problems. Sometimes my own expectations are set too high, unrealistic even, sometimes the simple acceptance that those expectations are not those of others explains the outcome.

Allowing your expectations of others to be, even in part, the basis of your happiness shows a lack of Wisdom, so learn from the pain, don’t repeat the mistake, and move on. This is, of course, far easier to say than to do. But to help maintain your happiness, set realistic expectations for yourself and accept that failing to meet those expectations does not mean failing completely.

Great Expectations – What the Dickens?

20 Nov 2010 2 Comments

by Anupadin in Buddhism Tags: ,

We all live with expectations, of ourselves, of others and of the outcome of situations in our lives.

It is very easy to be disappointed when those expectations are not met.

But you must remember, your happiness is in your own hands, so being unhappy when your expectations are dashed is your own decision.

For myself, I find that taking some quiet time to examine why I am disappointed solves a lot of these problems. Sometimes my expectations are too high, unrealistic you might say, sometimes the simple acceptance that those expectations are not those of others explains the outcome.

Allowing your expectations of others to be, even in part, the basis of your happiness shows a lack of Wisdom, learn from the pain, don’t repeat the mistake and move on.

So to help maintain your happiness, set realistic expectations for yourself and accept that failing to meet those expectations does not mean failing completely.

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