Here I am again, and the title of this post does say it all... I'm disappointed.
If "disappointed" means not having one's expectations met, I'd say I'm justified in my feeling this way. I used to think that I could function without having any expectations (save myself), but I was wrong.
I realize now that I can no more remove expectations from my mind than I can remove my heart from my body. It seems that, in a strange twist of Newtonian (I think) law of motion, that every action has an equal and opposite expectation. Perhaps all of us do things in the hope of something, and that itself may be done subconsciously.
But perhaps I'm not referring to just an action-expectation contingency, but rather one of expecting a duty of care. I find that I often have an expectation (misplaced, no doubt) of those who are older than me, to show more care and concern. Surely, to expect that of the young would be to set oneself up for disappointment in no small measure.
If a child does not care for anyone else but himself, he needs to be taught.
If a youth does not care for anyone else but himself, he needs to be instructed.
If one's contemporary does not care for anyone else but himself, he needs to be advised (sometimes, with temper!)
But what is the recourse if it is one's senior who does not care for anyone else but himself? Recent events have caused me to think of this a great deal, and I arrive at this conclusion: such people should be kept at a safe distance, and avoided if possible. For there is no reasoning with them. To change them is impossible; verbal suasion, a Herculean task. To teach or instruct them... What was that they said about old dogs?
And while I'm on this subject of self-preoccupation, it seems the the maturing of society has not translated th sam to its youth. The youths today are sickeningly self-centered, in a dangerously unconscious way. They are concerned for themselves alone: their results, their interests, their fun, their enjoyment. They see not what they are, and they know not how much they are forgoing. They live for the moment: to he'll with responsibility.
Is this to be said of our youths today? Or has it always been this way?
Regardless... I'm disappointed.
aw
