Sun rising this morning, over a light covering of snow. The past few days have brought a change in wind direction and the first raw nip of approaching Winter. Customers have come into our shop and most of us have commented, nodding sagely, that snow is coming, exactly as is expected at this time of year.
Even though our observations during the past 25 years are that the seasons are becoming warmer and drier, then wetter and windier. We continue to expect a sharp dip in temperature and the first flurry of snow before the end of November, a milder December and then the real bite of Winter in January and February. Despite the evidence of climate change we hold on to our deeply rooted beliefs - our expectations remain even when we know that the snowfall is becoming likely to be far less and of shorter duration than in years gone by.
This has led me to ponder upon how our attachment to our expectations creates a sense of security, the safety of being able to predict what comes next. Even if that expectation is not really true we hold on to the old narrative rather than risk a leap of faith into the unknown. Perhaps this is partly why we are so reluctant to address issues of climate change, (or other global concerns) as if denial will prevent it happening, as if believing our individual efforts are not enough to collectively effect change so not worth pursuing. Hoping against hope that somebody else will find the answer and make everything alright.
Earlier in the week I was offered another perspective of a more personal nature, regarding expectations. Weary of being marketed at and herded by social media (story for another day perhaps) I have closed my facebook accounts and redirected folk towards our shop website and this personal website.
I presumed that the shop site would gain some traffic from customers but that these pages might draw attention only from my nearest and dearest.
So I was pleasantly surprised when a lady came into the shop, asked if it was me writing here and said that she had enjoyed the style and content so far. Although part of the purpose of this space is to become a bit more visible I had little expectation of being noticed further afield let alone complimented. Not so long ago my response would have been dismissive and self deprecating .. a reflection of the low worth in which I held myself. But I managed to take a breath and say a genuinely heartfelt thank you to the person who had appreciated my efforts.
Its so easy not to raise our expectations of ourselves .. especially in a society that favours self effacement, seeming to prefer what is often false modesty over those who show that they recognise their own value. For me a reminder of how far I have come since the time when my default position would have been to abase myself instead of accepting praise gracefully.
So a thought about managing the expectations we hold, both as social groups and as individuals. There is nothing wrong with reflecting on whether they are still true or as useful as they used to be. Letting go what no longer serves and rewriting the narratives either by group agreement or in ceremony. I feel that now more than ever, we need to adapt to the changes happening in our world, and to build all the resilience that we will need to cope with whatever may lie ahead.
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