“Don’t count your chickens before they hatch!” I know this, just as, I am sure, you do. This is good advice, but sadly, it is wisdom that I don’t always follow. Too often when I am sure that something good is going to happen to me, I learn the hard way that I have set myself up for disappointment. I didn’t wait for the newborn little chicks!

When my kids were young and “just knew” that this or that was going to come true, I pulled out the “count your chicken” adage. But, like me, they choose to ignore the good advice behind the words. Many times, they, too, were sadly disappointed.

Now that I am all grown up and know how the world works I try to refrain from expecting anything until it does, in fact, become a reality. A recent example: I went to dinner with friends to a restaurant that had high reviews. I ordered the specialty dish, which the menu had given a five-star rating. It was expensive, but, I was sure, it was well worth the hefty price. My mind and taste buds worked overtime waiting for my food to arrive. I was about to have the best meal that I have had in a very long time. Finally it arrived. The presentation was everything that I had hoped. I savored the smell as I picked up my fork for a truly great culinary experience. The first bite told me that although it was good, it wasn’t that good. I’m not known for my cooking skills, but I know I could have done equally well preparing this dish. I was so disappointed and my wallet was depleted!