Beware of Your Expectations

I recently melted down at a Chipotle. 

The reason? Expectations.

This got me thinking about expectations in all aspects of my life.

Twenty-five years ago, on that same stretch of route 81, I wouldn’t have found any place to eat or get gas. Now I come unglued if my culinary desires aren’t met or the gas station isn’t on the right side of the highway. 

Twenty years ago, I was overjoyed if an internet search found anything remotely close. Now I’m pissed if the search engine can’t reach into my brain and figure out what I really wanted from my disjointed and misspelled typing. 

Fifteen years ago, I was happy to send a cryptic text message on a flip phone with a 3×4 alphanumeric keypad. Now I’m annoyed if my iPhone can’t properly predict the tense of my next word.

Ten years ago, I was content using my mirrors to back up. Now I curse the universe if my vehicle has a poorly lit, non-HD camera that doesn’t show me the “stop here” graphics.

Five years ago, I understood that shipping was a line item in addition to the product cost. Now I’m switching to a new store if shipping isn’t “included.”

One year ago, I didn’t give much thought to turning on the lights with my hand. Now I’m confused when I can’t yell at Alexa to do it for me.

Beware of your expectations. They can screw with your humanity.