Expectations ...

There was a man, friend of a friend, we'll call hiim George.  George was starting to go bald, so one Thursday night he shaved his head.

At the end of the day Friday, his boss came up to him and said "Come to my office first thing Monday morning, I need to talk to you" and walked away.

George worried all weekend.  Was he in trouble for shaving his head?  Did it present the wrong image?  Was his job at risk?  What was he going to do, what was he going to say, how would he handle this?  George's kids wanted to go to the park, but George couldn't enjoy his time with them, because he was thinking about his boss.  After the kids were in bed, Mrs George wanted to have some quality time with her husband, but George's heart wasn't in it.  Poor George had himself worked into a frenzy by Monday morning.  Sleep deprived and frightened, he went into his boss' office.

"Please shut the door", said the boss, looking mildly uncomfortable as well.

Geroge shut the door, a fine bead of sweat breaking out on his brow.

"Thanks for coming to see me George" said the boss. "I noticed you shaved your head.  And, well ... I'm starting to go bald, and I wondered if that was why you did it?  I have been thinking about shaving my head, and I wondered if you are glad you did it, happy with your decision?"

George was stunned.  He had spent all weekend worrying, instead of enjoying himself ... for no reason.

~~~~~~~~~

I realy this story for two reasons.

One, be careful how you say things, because people can easily see an innocent comment through the filter of their own experience.  Be aware of people's reactions to the things you say.

Two, and much more importantly: we often waste so much of our time, energy, and happiness, wondering what something "really means", and what "might happen", that we miss out on the important things in life.

On a small scale, I had texted Sebastian a few times yesterday, and never got a response.  Of course, being me, I had convinced myself I had done something to upset him.  Until today, when I got a text from him asking what I thought of some pics he had sent me ... he never received any of my texts.

On a large scale, with recent developments in Libya ... it will be very easy for us to "borrow trouble", and let our imaginations run. 

So this is our new catch phrase - remind yourself, when you are having a "shaved head" moment, that the reality is likely going to be much less stressful than whatever your imagination is cooking up.  Take a deep breath, and carry on.