Gifford Volunteer Chaplain Kathy Rohloff shares her personal reflections in this blog post. Kathy and all of our volunteer chaplains offer a nonsectarian presence. If you need someone to listen, and hear you with compassion, you can reach them by calling the Rev. Tim Eberhardt at 802-728-2107.
By Kathy Rohloff
Expectation is the act or state of looking forward or anticipating an event or occurrence.
This is the emotion we remember as a child when we looked forward to Christmas or our birthday. A new school year or job could be a mix of expectations, excitement along with apprehension and worry.
The scenarios that we play in our own minds are often quite different from the reality of what occurs.
The perfect gift is not given; there is actual fighting happening at family gatherings, and in the midst of a crowd we feel terribly alone. Things are not what we waited and longed for.
In December 1860, the first 2 chapters of Charles Dicken’s thirteenth novel, Great Expectations was first published in a weekly newspaper. Folks waited eagerly for the story to continue and it did until August 1861.
It was a story of young Pip, who had no prospects. He found favor with an eccentric spinster and when he came of age inherited an education and a fortune.
Because he attributed his good fortune to her, he expected marriage to her stepdaughter and a carefree life.
But the life he expected was one he invented in his mind. His fortune actually came from an escaped convict and his reality was very different from his fantasies.
165 years have passed and the story still reveals the truth. We all live with expectations every day. We also all live with memories that we need to examine.
What self-talk and memories are holding us back from the life we are meant to live?
We all have things that we revisit, rehash, and retrieve. They still color our responses and stifle our growth.
They may have their origin from childhood, the school playground, gym class, or a new job.
Their echoes are reflected in any disagreement, slamming door, silence or hurtful words.
Still we hold them close to our chest, even when they are painful because they are familiar.
Even unpleasant familiar memories may feel safer than the unknown. Perhaps we are afraid to let them go?
It is time to be set free. Be done with negative self-talk.
Write a new story. Leave the twisted plots behind.
Have new expectations. Let them be great.
