Red flags start waving for me when a tradesman describes a proposed job as 'Too easy' or 'How hard can it be' or 'What could go wrong'. I think these confident sounding phrases make assumptions that don't always come true. It's not a big leap to apply this thinking to treatment I've had that fell way below my expectations. Like the time I had shoulder injections. After I asked the doctor what he was going to do, he replied, "Don't worry about a thing, I've done thousands of these. You won't feel a thing." He was partly right. I didn't feel a thing. But given the results, I won't be going back for more.

Our recent kitchen renovation turned out well. However within a few days our washing machine suffered a fatal stroke. So of course we had to replace it very quickly. One more unexpected change. That's when I realised every new kitchen deserves a new washing machine (that we hadn't planned on)!! Expecting that the unexpected is possible or likely, is as necessary as dealing with the unexpected. I don't think I have a 'doomsday' state of mind. At least I hope not. But I have lived long enough to know I don't live in a perfect world. I know all too well my high expectations won't always be fully realised. So I have to build a bridge connecting my high expectations to the unexpected in every day. It's a long bridge, often needing 'repairs'. A daily balancing act if ever there was one.