Lower the expectations, heighten the satisfaction
Monday, January 3, 2022 at 08:33PM An old boyfriend of mine used to say that one of the secrets of happiness was not to have too many expectations. (Or something like that. It was a long time ago.)
I’ve been pondering that pearl of wisdom recently, when once again we have experienced a COVID-ravaged Christmas. If nothing else, the last two years have taught inhabitants of the modern Western world what the rest of humanity has known throughout history – you can’t expect much, and you can control even less. The burgeoning of the risk management industry notwithstanding, there’s no guarantee against accident, heartache, illness and death.
This second COVID holiday season, almost every family I know has had plans scuppered. Offspring flying in from overseas don’t make it. Local family members are forced into isolation thanks to being a close contact, or they contract the disease itself. Despite the heart-warming tableaus of long-separated loved ones reuniting at airports on the TV news, most tables have had empty places.
Our tribe were no exception. It has been two years since we were all together at Christmas, nine months since we’ve seen our interstate son. He was hanging out for rest and time with the clan after an exciting but punishing year; we just wanted to have him close, let him sleep and watch him cuddling his niece.
We counted down the days, but a close colleague of our son had COVID and he had to quarantine in Brisbane for a minimum of a week.
In a world of climate crisis and refugees in their millions, our disappointment was small fry, but we felt it keenly. News dribbled in via what’s app: a first negative test. A successfully booked flight. Queueing for hours at the testing station, the wait for a second test result that might take days. Then, miraculously, there he was, hugging each of us.
COVID has schooled us to temper our expectations; but it’s also taught us is to treasure the moments when things do work out. We might not be able to travel distances, but a week at a Victorian beach has never felt so indulgent. Having all our loved ones under one roof is nothing short of bliss. We are realising where true contentment lies.
The first night that our whole mob were together, we sat around on the verandah, eating and drinking and yarning and laughing, bagging each other affectionately in the way that families do. As the matriarch, I’m always in heaven when this happens. But I suspect each one of us thought, looking around the table, that life couldn’t get much better. Our expectations may be low, but our satisfaction at the simplest pleasures is profound.
Reader Comments (2)
Thank you Claire for capturing my feelings, I’m isolating with my teenage son who has Covid but a week with family over Christmas was bliss. Go gently whatever comes….
So pleased for you to have had that joy. I don't feel quite so privileged now that we've managed to clear all the hurdles and will be able to be in Stanthorpe for Wayne's 60th birthday on Saturday.
I hope we can have a similar experience to yours.