There is a famous quote that says:
No expectations, no disappointment.”
What a terrible way to live – without the joy of anticipation and hope! I much prefer to have a sunny, optimistic outlook. Is the glass half-empty or half-full? I say, it’s ALWAYS full – half with air, half with water!
Despite that, I do realise that life doesn’t always go to plan, and I also know what it’s like to experience disappointment.
If I had to name the biggest disappointment in my life, I would have to go all the way back to Year 9.
I’ve never been athletic or sporty, and had never been on a school sports team for anything. I did however love to shoot hoops, and was overjoyed that year to make the Junior Basketball B team.
I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face! I’d actually done it 🙂 . I swear I walked taller, I felt more confident, I loved life. I couldn’t wait to go to practices, to pick up my uniform, to officially represent my school in sport. My name would be in the school yearbook, as part of the team. I might still be a nerd, but I’d be halfway acceptable on the school totem pole.
A week later all my hopes and dreams were dashed.
None of the other schools had enough students to field a B grade junior basketball team – and just like that, it was back to being a nobody, destined to spend my days in “recreational” sport.
There have been other disappointments of course.
- I was disappointed when I had the mumps in Year 3 and had to miss out on my neighbour’s birthday party.
- I was disappointed when I missed out on various jobs or roles at work.
- I was disappointed when my in-laws moved two hours’ drive away, around the time our second child was born.
- I was disappointed when we lost a truckload of money due to the GFC.
- I was disappointed when Sizzlers closed.
- I was disappointed when the pandemic hit, and we had to cancel our 30th anniversary trip to Melbourne to see the Harry Potter play (I know we could go now, but I’ve kind of lost interest).
- I was disappointed at Christmas time when it rained for most of the time I was away at the beach.
Even when my own mother didn’t turn up to my wedding, I felt more relief than disappointment (she would have done her best to cause a scene).
There have been plenty of disappointments in my life, but fortunately I’m pretty resilient and have been able to take the occasional hurdle in my stride.
Why does such a seemingly trivial event which happened thirty-odd years ago, still stand out in my memory?
Perhaps because it happened during my formative years, a time when I was grappling with self-esteem and my identity.
But I think it was because it was so close I could touch it.
It was real. Until it wasn’t.
And it meant so darn much to me at the time.
How I wish I could go back and give young Janet a massive hug. I’d tell her that even though she was gutted, her life turned out brilliantly in the end – and in the things that really matter!
If that’s the biggest disappointment I’ve ever had in life, I guess I’m pretty lucky 😉 .
What do you think of as the biggest disappointment in your life?!
DC says
No disappointments immediately come to mind – which I guess is a good thing!
Janetti Spaghetti says
Not even when SOMEBODY missed the goal that you kicked?!!!