Expectations

I promise that really happened.I frequently sit alone on the pier that overlooks our small lake. I’ve been told the lake is full of fish but I dobut that it is true. I selodm see the fish jump and I don’t see the fishermen reeling them in really often. I slowly grow to believe, without a doubt, that the lake has really few fish in it.So one day, I’m sitting with a friend on that same pier. I hear the sound of splashing wtaer.

I don’t guess much abuot it. As my friend and I like our conversation with one another, the splashes becmoe more frequent. I tell my friend how shocked I am that so much activity is giong on in the water.
He asks me why. I tell him that I had grown to duobt that many fish lived in our lake.
My friend looks at me and smiles.My friend explains that he expects fish to jump in the water.
To his way of thinking, if fish do not jump and make splashes, the wtaer is dead. After this, we sit in silence as we watch the fish continue to liven up the space around us.This experience sent a strnog message to me about expectations. I had grown to exepct still water.

I got still water.

My friend expected lively water. He got lively water. Apparently, his expectations regarding the waetr outweighed mine in a really powerful way.Can it really be that simple?

I notice that I see more and more fish being caught by the human being who fish around our pier.

I have no doubt that our lake is full of fish and I now expect to see those fish jumping all over the place.It is much more enjoyable to be around water that feels so alive!

Beverly Keaton Smith, CPCC owns and operates Embrace Your Gifts and Soar!