Live Uncomfortably

Source: http://blogs.timesunion.com

I haven’t read the book since high school, and therefore don’t remember much about it, but I will say that it probably sucks. Or at least the character that had great expectations was a miserable fool. Expecting the best is the worst thing you can do.

Clay and I flew into Panama City with high hopes. We had read and seen so many wonderful things about Panama City online that we were bursting with excitement as the plane landed. I was listening to Van Halen on repeat. Clay was looking at me funny.

Once we had landed in Panama City, found a taxi into town, got a room at a hostel, and found some food at a grocery store, things weren’t shaping up exactly as I had pictured. The taxi was 28 bucks into town, the hostel was a dirty spot in a dirty alley, and the food costs were equivalent to the US.

As I awoke the next day, my mind was still dancing with thoughts of a beautiful city full of culture and cheap delicious restaurants awaiting me. We walked the streets and explored for several hours. I kept expecting to find a gem lying around the corner. But, with each block I found more of the same: just another big city.

The Panama Canal is prime example of the trouble with expectations. The only thing more boring than watching ships pass through a series of locks is, nothing. 

Now, I fancy myself as a pretty optimistic person. I try to see the good in a lot of situations. For instance, when I was stranded in JFK airport around Christmas time, I did the best I could to have fun. I found an abandoned wheelchair, drank $9 Coronas, and wheeled myself around for a few hours. But, I was still a little pissed because my experience didn’t match my expectations - I was supposed to be on a beach sipping $1.50 Coronas in the Dominican Republic.

Having expectations is stupid. Nothing will ever turn out exactly as you want. This doesn’t mean you can’t have a plan though. There should always a destination in mind. Clay and I had a paradise in mind. It just took a couple of extra days to find it in Boquete. 

Keys to Eliminating Expectations:

• Know where the finish line is - where you want to be. While traveling it could mean finding a city you truly love. In your relationship, it could mean finding an equilibrium between excitement and comfortability. In your business ventures, it could mean a certain number of sales. 
• Don’t tie expectations to the experiences along the way. Live with what happens in the moment. Take what comes your way and continue on the path towards your goals. 

Expect the unexpected, duh.