Life's Lessons (or...Managing Expectations?)

Lessons Hard Learned

Nothing is ever as it seems,

And the truth of the thing

Takes time to be learned.

And during the process are lost

Much time, effort, and trust,

When finally burned.

With exhilaration of promise

Many are blinded by hope

In desire of good.

Some sacrifice their principles

With misplaced beliefs

That colours their mood.

And prospective positive effect

Can overwhelm judgment,

Make one hesitate,

When expectations of reward

And potential feelings

Of pleasure are great.

As time passes, clues do emerge

That tip the hand when

Deceit is unsealed.

Perhaps commitments are unmet,

Follow through undone,

And truth is revealed.

Profound disappointment sets in

As reality hits

And one can now see

Being hoodwinked by false dreams

And empty promises

And choices most folly.

Sadness, hurt and self-doubt replace

Frustration and anger,

When seeking to blame

At first, directed to the other

But then shifting inwards

When faced with the shame.

For having been played for a fool,

For making poor choices, and

Giving way to the heart.

For creating a situation

Ending in needless grief,

Insight failed at the start.

From these misgivings, angst and hurt,

When emotions subside,

And roles are discerned,

With time of reflection to process,

One can appreciate

Lessons hard learned.

Too Good to be True

Some things are too good to be true,

An adage we have often heard,

A caution from those made wiser

From experiences incurred.

Perhaps an opportunity

Promises to boost one’s career,

Dangled prospects of advancement

And security for a goal held dear.

Or a fulfilling relationship

With someone who says all the right things,

Whose wondrous words and promises

Makes one believe and the heart sings.

Or a short period of bliss,

Maybe a charmed life over years,

Where one takes for granted good times,

No worry, anxiety, fears.

Great fulfillment and happiness

Leave vision and senses to wain,

One allows their guard to go down as

Blindness and false security reign.

Then reality strikes “too good”,

What was thought true now deceived,

By once wishful thinking, falsehoods,

And/or actions that were believed.

Then a range of feelings set in,

Surprise, shock, anger, discontent,

Profound disappointment and loss

Over what this experience meant.

After reflection on one’s part

And analyzing the drama,

Following hurt and self-doubt

In time, one heals from the trauma.

Avoiding such disappointment

Seems simple - it shouldn’t take a wiz,

If it seems too good to be true,

One now should see…it probly is.

The Perfect to Me

Nothing is perfect, or so it’s oft said.

Through keen eyes, so objectively measured.

Like a diamond clean cut edge is made,

Pristine, radiant, valued and treasured.

Or a tune to the ear, a perfect pitch.

Notes in the air in complete consonance.

Or a smooth surface felt, touch does enrich

The tactile embrace of a heartfelt dance.

Listen to the diamond, no flaw is seen.

See or touch music, no flatness is heard.

But perception is our bias - we lean

To that which attracts, our senses blurred.

Nothing is perfect? I must disagree.

There is the perfect I touch, hear, and see.