Gratitude Post - February 28, 2023

I'm grateful for prefixes & suffixes!

When I was in elementary school we were asked what our favourite words were.  One person said "moist", to the consternation of everyone else in the group.  Others pulled out words like "knock" or "pterodactyl", words with silent letters.  I put forward the word "thus", but then a friend of mine said "antidisestablishmentarianism".  And that word stuck with me.  My friend didn't know the meaning of it at the time, so I took it upon myself to search for the meaning.  You may have heard of a disestablishmentarian, or someone who favours the disestablishment of church and state.  Conversely, antidisestablishmentarianism is the opposition to withdrawing state support from a church.  The presence of the double negative drastically changes the implications of the word.  But regardless of what the word means, it's the power of prefixes and suffixes that really intrigues me when I think about antidisestablishmentarianism.  

The root word of antidisestablishmentarianism is establish.  There are two prefixes, anti- and dis-, and three suffixes, -ment, -tarian, and -ism.  Together these modifications to the root word change the meaning and implications of the word, reversing the expected definition, and providing an entirely new word.  It's amazing what a prefix or suffix can do, and then the combination of them together ... the English language is amazing!

Gratitude Post - February 27, 2023

I'm grateful for produce plastic bags!

The plastic bags you find in the produce section are a reversed expectation in and of themselves.  You expect a bag to open so that you can put something inside it, but that's not a simple task when it comes to the plastic bags in the produce department.  I mean, how long does it take to open a bag?

That being said, those bags are invaluable in our household.  We're not fans of the smell that comes from compost, so we put our compost waste into those bags and then leave them in the freezer until they're sufficiently full, at which time they're sent down the garbage chute.  So despite the reversed expectation inherent in their initial usage, these bags are extremely useful!

Are Miracles just Reversed Expectations?

To answer that question simply, yes.

Before I delve into that, I want to state that I'm a religious person.  That is who I am, and so as I share my perspectives on the reversed expectations I've run into throughout my life I can't help but have religious views seep into the narrative.  That being said, I am in no way trying to peddle my views, or force you to accept my perspective.  In fact, if you have a differing view I'd love to hear it as long as you're willing to discuss; to share views but not try and enforce views.  So, that being said, here's my view.

I don't believe things happen by luck or coincidence.  I believe there is a higher power, and that He is our Heavenly Father; the Father of our spirits.  And He loves us.  Based on that love, He plays an active role in our lives, striving to guide us on a path that will, in the long run, be the best for us.

And, inherent in that guidance, I believe God orchestrates reversed expectations in our lives from time to time.

To illustrate this I'd like to refer back to the car accident I referred to in my earlier posts.

So, as I explained, I pulled into an intersection cautiously and was t-boned on the passenger side by a vehicle going approximately 75-80 km/hr.  From the force of the impact the vehicle I was in careened off the road and hit a telephone pole on someone's front lawn.  And that's where the miracles started.  Or in other words, that's where the reversed expectations came into play.

Now you may be a bit incredulous about the thought that I could find miracles in the midst of a situation that led to me being catastrophically impaired, but there are actually a lot of them.  First, the state of the other driver.  Based on the fact that the accident led to me sustaining a severe brain injury, the expectation would be that the other driver would have been severely injured as well.  But that was reversed.  The other driver only broke his ankle.  And how is that a miracle for me?  Well, I was the one who entered the intersection without properly "looking both ways", for lack of a better term.  It was my fault.  And if I was the reason that someone else was severely injured, let's just say that wouldn't have improved my situation.  In fact, I think my recovery would have slowed down drastically if I had been worried about the impact my decisions had on someone else.  So to me, this is the first of the reversed expectations I classify as miracles.

And they don't stop there...

• The day was hot, so one would expect people to be inside enjoying air conditioning or fans.  But the person on who's lawn I ended up on was outside.  Those inside their homes didn't hear the accident and weren't aware of what had happened.
• The man on whose lawn I ended up was cutting his grass.  One wouldn't expect the timing of the accident to be such that he had just finished cutting the grass around the telephone pole.  But it did, and I didn't harm him when I was propelled onto his property.
• Not everyone is trained in first aid, in fact the percentage of Canadians currently trained in first aid is dangerously low.  So, the expectation would be that the man on whose lawn I landed wouldn't be trained.  But he was.  And he knew to hold my head up to clear my airway for the 20-30min until first responders arrived.
• My prognosis, or the expectation of the doctors, was that I wouldn't survive the first 48hrs.  I'm not sure how this expectation was reversed, but somehow it was
• As part of my injury, I had right sided hemiparesis, meaning my right side lost it's strength almost to the point of being paralyzed along my right side.  The expectation is that would be a huge problem.  Well, as one of my high school teachers pointed out, because I'm right handed it means I'd get that strength back faster than if my left side had been impacted.
• Etc.

There are so many expectations that were reversed that made this hard situation easier than it could be.  And to me,

That's what miracles are, divinely appointed reversed expectations that make hard things easier.

So, based on the above definition, what divinely appointed reversed expectations have you seen in your life?  And how have they made things easier for you?

Gratitude Post - February 24, 2023

I'm grateful for entertainers who entertain!

Now, you might be a little confused by this statement - an entertainer by definition entertains others, so wouldn't this gratitude post refer to all entertainers?  Is the "who entertain" add on superfluous redundancy? 

Well, from what I've seen, a lot of entertainers (including writers, actors, talkshow hosts, comics, athletes, etc.) have moved away from entertaining and have started using their platform to push their views and perspectives on any given topic.  This politicizing of entertaining is a reversed expectation that I am NOT grateful for, so I'm highlighting my gratitude for those who still focus on entertaining.

To give an example of this, when I sit down to read a book I am looking to be entertained.  My expectation is to be drawn into another world, to be able to set aside reality for a short time and enjoy the story hidden in the pages in my hand (and yes, I'm still reading hardcopy books).  I find it so frustrating when, in the middle of the story I'm forced to wade through paragraphs, pages, and sometime chapters of the authors views on the current political landscape.  Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not upset that an author, or any other entertainer for that matter, has views regarding politics.  I'd just prefer they keep those views separate from their job which is to entertain.

So, as I said, I'm grateful for entertainers who entertain!

Gratitude Post - February 23, 2023

I'm grateful for just colds!

Now, this gratitude in and of itself could be considered a reversed expectation.  I mean, who's grateful for getting a cold?

Well, the reason I'm grateful for just colds is that though you're sick, you're still able to get done what life requires of you.  Despite a cold, someone can still clean the house if it's gotten to the point that it can no longer be put off.  Despite a cold, someone can still prepare a meal and ensure you still are getting food in your system.  Despite a cold, someone can still go shopping for necessities.  Despite a cold, one can do just about anything.  There are very view times where someone is unable to get out of bed because of a just a cold, which is definitely something to be grateful for.

And adding to the reversed expectation inherent within just a cold, they often work as a warning sign that your immune system needs a boost.  There have been times where I've downgraded a cold, pushed my way through (really capitalized on the fact that someone with just a cold can do just about anything), and then ended up have the cold progress into something much worse.  I for one am grateful for the warning inherent in just colds that, if heeded, can and will ensure I don't get sicker.

Gratitude Post - February 22, 2023

I'm grateful for liveable temperatures!

With me living in Canada, my idea of liveable temperature may be drastically different from yours - I mean, put on a few layers and -40 really isn't that bad.  Really, I'm grateful for the fact that the temperature in a room/building can be controlled such that we aren't too hot or too cold, but end up being just right.

But where's the reversed expectation in a temperature?  The reversed expectation is in context.  A house that's at the standard room temperature is, by most accounts, a wonderful liveable temperature.  But context plays a huge role in that.  Coming into this same house when I've spent time outside on a freezing cold day, and suddenly that 'room temperature' is going to feel quite warm.  Conversely, if I've been outside for a walk on a boiling hot summer day that same 'room temperature' is going to feel quite chilly.  Out bodies are so quick to accommodate the state we find ourselves in, trying to compensate for the extremes (like sweating when it's hot), that making a change to that state can make things feel a little off.

However, even considering this contextual impact on how a temperature feels, I'm grateful for it.  It emphasizes that our bodies are doing their jobs, that they're acclimating as required to facilitate as much comfort as possible.  And though the abrupt change from outside to inside can be frustrating from time to time, it's not something that I'd want to stop because if it did that would likely mean I'm going to be even more uncomfortable in the extremes that I am currently!

Gratitude Post - February 21, 2023

 I'm grateful for pillows!

Pillows are absolutely fantastic.  To me, a good night's sleep is dependent upon a pillow.  I could be sleeping on a hardwood or tiled floor, and as long as I have a pillow I'll be good to go.  Beds or blankets, they can be changed and even left behind if required, but a pillow - that's vital.

But if you have the wrong pillow, that can lead to sleepless night.  A bad pillow can create kinks in your neck, leading to migraines.  If the pillow isn't right for you it can actually mess with your entire body posture, negatively impacting your sleep for days to come.  

That's the reversed expectation hidden within pillows, and I'm grateful for it.  It emphasizes that our bodies are fragile, but that if we're careful we are able to aid our bodies in achieving its greatest comfort and health.

Gratitude Post - February 20, 2023

 I'm grateful for Family Day!

I think it's fantastic that a day has been set aside by different provincial governments to honour and celebrate our families!  Now, you may be wondering where the reversed expectation is within that.  In my opinion, it's the expectation that such a day is actually needed.

In my opinion, the prioritization of family within the home should occur each and every day.  And, to be honest, I don't know if a Family Day will actually have an impact on whether or not it's a priority.  That being said, after watching the movie Christopher Robin, if Winnie the Pooh and his friends can change the prioritization of grownup Christopher, maybe a day can have a greater impact than I suppose. 

I'm grateful for the sentiment and the opportunity to have the day as a reminder to realign priorities that may have slipped a little of late.  And it may be that the true reversed expectation in this post is the reversal of my own expectations on what a single day can do. 

The Worst Best Piece of Advice

 The worst piece of advice I've ever received is "Just give up!"

Now to provide some context, what that has to do with reversed expectations, and why I consider that bad advice.

Going back to the Writer's Craft class I attended in high school, and made mention of in my Warning to Stop / Motivation to Succeed post, my teacher had us begin our own writer's craft journals in which we were expected to make entries every time we had our class.  To facilitate these entries, there would be a writing prompt on the board at the front of class that we were invited to respond to.  One class I walked in to find the following question on the board,

"What's the worst piece of advice you've ever received?"

As I consider that question now, I can't help but smile at the inherent reversed expectation within that question.  Advice, by definition, is an opinion or recommendation to guide another's actions.  And I don't know about you, but I definitely wouldn't advise anything that I personally didn't feel was the best course of action in the given situation.  So any advice, by nature of what it is, would be considered the best advice possible by the giver - setting the stage for an expectation that the comment is of the highest value.  However, the suggestion that some advice could be classified as bad, worse, or worst, implies a significant reversal of that expectation.  Not only did the value of the comment, as seen by the giver, not match the value placed on it by the received, it was fully reversed.

But when I was sitting at my desk, rifling through my backpack for my journal, those weren't really the thoughts that came to mind.  For the me back then, I didn't waste time thinking about the question, just what my answer was.  I immediately landed on one piece of advice that I considered to be of the least value: just give up!  And that hasn't changed despite the passing of 15+ years.  I would still consider that the worst piece of advice, and the reasons for that have just continued to grow.  And as I consider the experiences I've had that support my feeling that this is the worst piece of advice for me, I realize that they're all examples of reversed expectations in and of themselves.  So I won't provide you with all of them, cause they'll likely provide the groundwork for future blog posts, but I'll share a couple with you here: one that was a major factor for me considering this the worst piece of advice when I was in grade 11, and one that has really emphasized that for me since that time.

First, the example that came to my mind as I sat at my desk in my Writer's Craft class: Cross Country.  Throughout my years of public school, both elementary and high school, I really enjoyed being as physically active as possible.  I played volley-ball, basketball, and badminton, as well as participating in wrestling, numerous events in track and field, and, you guessed it, cross country.  I started participating in cross country back when I was in grade 2, and I really enjoyed going out on those long runs.  But I had a small problem, I suffered from sports asthma, meaning that exercise could induce wheezing, shortness of breath, and/or coughing.  Because of that, my coach recommended that it might make sense for me to just give up.  I can't recall if those were the exact words used, but that was the sentiment.  And as I talked it over with my parents I ended up deciding to do just that, I gave up.  The funny thing about this situation is I grew out of my sports asthma, and actually got faster.  And though I continued to participate in the other sports I mentioned, I've never gotten back into cross country.  It's really too bad that my coach didn't consider the fact that children do sometimes outgrow sports asthma, and instead of recommending that I give up on taking part in cross country, monitor my symptoms and determine how to proceed each year depending on how I feel.  

A path forward that took into account the potentiality that I could compete though maybe not every year depending on how my asthma was doing, an option that looked at the grey areas rather than just the black and white of participating or not, probably would have been more valuable advice.

Second, the example that has emphasized for me since that time that just give up is NOT valuable advice.  In the summer of 2007, just after graduating from high school, I was in a serious car accident.  The accident occurred in a rural area and I was airlifted to the nearest hospital that could accommodate my injuries.  Once there, my prognosis was that I wouldn't survive the next 48 hrs.  You see, because of the nature of the accident and the jostling I had received I had sustained a sever traumatic brain injury.  And based on the tests performed by paramedics at the scene of the accident, I was classified as being catastrophically impaired according to the Glasgow Coma Scale.  Considering the trauma my brain had received, the doctors didn't think I would make it past 48 hrs.  When I did, they revised their prognosis to state that I would survive, though they were unsure of the state I would be in, potentially being in a vegetable state requiring others to do everything for me for the rest of my life.  Regardless of the state I was going to end up in, they explained to my parents that I would be in the hospital for at least the next 6 months.  Miraculously, I was discharged from the hospital within 3 weeks!  But that's not to say I was in the clear and that my recovery was a cakewalk.  In fact, it was anything but.  Due to the nature of where my brain was injured I had to relearn how to walk, how to read and write, and how to talk properly.  And for those of you who have only had to learn to do those things once, learning them again is not the funnest experience.

As I progressed in my recovery I worked with a vast number of doctors, medical professionals, and specialists to get my development back on track.  And though it was never exactly stated, there were a lot of times just give up was the implied advice.  As I worked on walking I was reminded by doctors that I may never run again, and maybe I shouldn't push myself beyond just moving from point A to point B.  As I worked on reading and writing it was highlighted how good it was that I had already graduated from high school since my days as a student were likely over.  As I worked on talking I was told to get used to talking disjointedly as I would experience word-finding difficulties long into the future.  And if I had listened to those comments, listened to the advice to just give up, I probably would be in a state not much different than I had been when I was discharged from the hospital.  Luckily, I didn't.  Though I have a slightly different gait than I did before my accident, I can walk perfectly fine and can run whenever I so desire.  Though I can't quite read or write as fast as I did before my accident, I can read and write well enough that I was able to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours degree, majoring in both Psychology and English.  Though I do run into the periodic word that I can't readily find, I'm able to talk and communicate with no real issues, such that I was able to serve a two year mission for my church and have worked as a teacher for scripture-based courses for students aged 18-30.

There are so many things I would not have done, if I had believed they could not be done, when I had been told to just give up.

So there you have it, my experiences that have emphasized for me that being told to just give up is the worst piece of advice I have ever received!  Truly, if I had accepted the advice to just give up my life would be in a drastically different place, and definitely not better than it is today.  

But I want to conclude with a caveat that this post is not to say that just giving up is the worst piece of advice for everyone.  Every life is different, and the advice that is valuable for one may be the worst for another, and I will not presume to state what advice will work for you and your life.  You'll have to figure that out for yourself!

So, what's the worst best advice that you've ever received?

Gratitude Post - February 17, 2023

I'm grateful for recipe books!

Have you ever seen where the picture of a recipe looks to be 5-star restaurant worthy, but then once you create it yourself the meal you make looks nothing like what you saw in the book?  I definitely have, and as weird as it sounds I'm grateful for that reversed expectation.

This reversed expectation has helped me to focus on the quintessentially important factor that needs to be considered when evaluating the worth of a recipe ... the taste!  I have had too many times where I've seen the picture of a meal they say was created from a specific recipe, and I can't replicate that look.  In fact, the result that I've ended up with is more akin to the slop of pigs than the pristine image they've provided.  But, and this is a big but, when I've gone and tasted that same slop the image the taste alone creates in my minds eye is equal to, or far exceeds the image in the cookbook.  And isn't that what really matters?

As an example, Tortilla Soup.  This soup is absolutely amazing (in regards to taste), but from a looks perspective it leaves a lot to be desired.  So if you're looking for that instagram worthy picture, don't use the recipe below.  However, if you're looking for a highlight for your tastebuds, this might be a great option to try (I also found it's a great option for a student as it's quick and easy for preparation).

Tortilla Soup

1 can refried beans            1 can black beans            1 can chicken broth            1/2 cup water

1 1/2 cups frozen corn       3/4 cup salsa                    1 1/2 cups cooked chicken/turkey, cubed

Mix all the ingredients together and either freeze for later use, or bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 min.  Serve with grated cheese and crushed tortilla chips sprinkled on top.  As optional toppings, you could also use sour cream, green onions, and/or jalapeño peppers.

Gratitude Post - February 16, 2023

I'm grateful for the weatherman/woman!

Now, if there was ever a profession that survived in reversed expectations, a weatherman/woman would be it.  As the saying goes,

As I look outside and see the green grass not covered by snow, it would appear that we're living in a reversed expectation since earlier in 2022 they were saying this winter was going to be hard and long.  I don't know about where you live, but other than a few minor stints, this winter has not lived up to expectations.

In considering this profession that sets reversed expectations on a regular basis, I can't help but be grateful.  Though it would be fantastic if the weatherman/woman got it right every day, the fact that he doesn't invites preparation and adaptability.  And as a result, those times we're fooled by a weather-related prediction, we're able to just roll with it.  Now imagine that the weather channel was right 100% of the time.  In that case, I know I wouldn't go out without checking the weather first.  I'd see what the weather was going to be, and I would dress and prepare according to that forecast with no deviation.  I could even see myself becoming reliant on those forecasts!  But, just as my post about technology noted, reversed expectations in the technological world are rather abundant.  Technology regularly goes awry, wether it's because of human error, a late system update, or some other reason.  With that in mind, it could be assumed that at some point the technology assisting to create these 100% accurate forecasts is going to breakdown, and knowing my luck it will happen on a day I had huge plans.  And because of the dependence I would have built on the 100% accurate forecasts, I wouldn't be prepared and things would end up in disaster.

So, though it can be frustrating that the weatherman/woman is so often providing expectations that are reversed in reality, the resulting tendency to err on the side of caution is something I'm grateful for, and will help guarantee monumental disasters won't happen.

Gratitude Post - February 15, 2023

I'm grateful for Reduced Chocolate!

I'm sure this is a gratitude post that most people would agree with.  I mean, there must be very few people who don't get excited about going to the store the day after Valentine's Day, or Christmas, or Easter and getting the goodies stocked for those holidays at a reduced price.  But I for one am not one of those people!

But what a great example of a reversed expectation.  The store has stocked a specific amount of chocolate to account for demand, but they've overstocked.  And it makes sense.  I mean, no store wants to lose out on revenue because they ran out of a desired product.  And that's what I'm grateful for!  I'm grateful they overstocked, and grateful for the resulting reduction in price which can lead to some wonderful purchases!

Gratitude Post - February 14, 2023

 I'm grateful for Valentine's Day!

I think sometimes we're a little unfair to ourselves and our significant others.  We get an expectation in our mind of how an event, like Valentine's Day should be.  We build it up in our imaginations to be the perfect day, with the perfect little touches, with the best accessories, and without distractions or interruptions.  And then reality hits, and reversed expectations occur.

Well, I'm grateful for those reversed expectations.  My wife and I recently experienced one of these situations, where our time together didn't quite go as hoped.  I ended up getting quite frustrated, and that frustration in and of itself made things harder for me, but also made things harder for my wife.  As we took the time to talk about it at the end of the day she pointed out that despite the interruptions and unexpected nature of the day, she was grateful for the time we spent together.  And so, though it didn't happen for me naturally, my wife has reminded me that I should allow these reversed expectations to highlight the true priorities.  Because really, the perfect day with the perfect little touches pales in importance to the fact that you get to spend time with the one you love!

Gratitude Post - February 13, 2023

 I'm grateful for Technology!

Technology, when you think about it, has a lot of reversed expectations.  I mean, how many times have you experienced or heard of someone trying to do one thing with technology, and ending up doing something not quite as expected?  As a fun example, do you remember that video of the lawyer who joined a Zoom call with a cat filter that he couldn't turn off?  And if you haven't seen it, I strongly recommend that you check it out: 'I'm not a cat': lawyer gets stuck on Zoom kitten filter during court case.  Talk about a reversed expectation!

But the opposite is also true.  There are many times that I don't even think something is possible, but technology has enabled it.  For example, me being able to schedule this post for Monday despite me taking time over the weekend to actually write it.  When I started a blog back in 2011, which really wasn't that long ago, scheduled posts weren't a possibility - it was posted to your blog when you wrote it, and that's all there was to it.  It's really neat to see little things, like scheduling a post, that are so easy to take for granted, are truly benefiting our lives, and I am definitely grateful for that!

Warning to Stop / Motivation to Succeed

My motivation in school was to prove teachers wrong.

Now before you start thinking of me as a brat, let me explain.  My goal was not to make my teachers look bad, but rather to consider what they were saying from every perspective possible and weigh it against what I knew already, searching for any inconsistencies or discrepancies that may not have been considered.  As an approach to education it helped me stay focused and attentive, even in classes where I was bored out of my mind or really didn't enjoy the subject.  And, for the most part, it led to my teachers loving me because of my "insightful comments" and "piercing questions".  To be honest, most of my teachers didn't know the reason for these comments/questions, and I can imagine there are many who might rescind their appreciation for me if they were to know.  So, before I proceed with the reversed expectation that emerged from this unorthodox perspective on schooling, if any of my teachers end up reading this, please know that my desire to prove you wrong was nothing personal.

When I made it to high school, I added a sub-motivation to be considered in tandem with my overarching drive to prove teachers wrong, and that was: take as many grade 12 classes as possible.  You see, I was aware that when you submitted an application to a University/College you needed to submit a grade average from your grade 12 classes.  However, this wasn't an average of ALL your grade 12 classes.  No, it was just an average of your top six grade 12 classes (though you were required to include certain core classes depending on the program you were applying to).  And based on that knowledge I thought it would be best to graduate with as many grade 12 classes as possible so I had a larger pool of classes to choose from, and therefore help guarantee for myself the highest possible average.

To make this sub-motivation a reality, I took some grade 10 classes as my electives in grade 9, some grade 11 classes in grade 10, and some grade 12 classes in grade 11.  To me my plan was working out wonderfully, and I was preparing myself to amass quite a large number of grade 12 classes - if I remember correctly I graduated with 10 of them.  But then, when I was in grade 11, I arrived in my Writer's Craft class.  Writer's Craft was a 4U course, meaning it was a grade 12 course (referring to the 4), and was also classified as a U course.  I'm not sure if they still do it that way, but when I was in high school there were U courses and C courses.  Supposedly they were to prepare students to go on to University or College, respectively.  U courses were more theoretical and academic (for lack of a better term), while the C courses were more practical and hands-on.  So I arrived at my first class and took my seat, excitedly noticing that I knew some of the other students - a few fellow students taking a grade 12 course in grade 11, and a few grade 12 students that I knew from my other classes.  And then our teacher walked in.  She proceeded to give us fair warning, 

"I see that some of you are only in grade 11.  I'd like to reiterate this is a 4U course so for those of you in grade 11, don't expect to do well."

I was shocked!  In the grade 12 classes I'd already started, the teachers seemed to applaud my efforts to take grade 12 classes sooner, and seemed to consider my being in grade 11 as a mere detail - one that would have no bearing on my caliber of work.  But here I was being told that since I was in grade 11 I was not sufficiently prepared for the coursework; that I couldn't cut it.  To be honest, my immediate inclination was to walk out of the class.  I really didn't need the course, and could always take another spare.  But then my motivation came to my mind: prove teachers wrong.  However, this time it may have been a little bit personal.  I wanted to prove this specific teacher very wrong!  And that statement of hers ended up propelling me to exceed her expectations of me as a grade 11 student, and I finished the semester at the top of the class (I think my grade was a 96%).

Now this teacher and I actually became very good friends.  In fact, she's one of the teachers I shared my educational motivation with.  I talked with her about it generally, and specifically in regards to her class.  She ended up sharing with me the reason she made that statement.  It turns out that she had grade 11 students take her class before, and they had all done very poorly due to the workload involved with a 4U class.  The intent behind her statement was to ensure everyone understood that this class was not going to be a cakewalk, and that she wasn't going to go easy on anyone just because they were currently in grade 11.  She was trying to give a warning to stop now, and get into an easier course so a bad grade wouldn't ruin a good average, like had happened for her former grade 11 students - a pretty fair way to set expectations.

But as I said, it worked the reverse for me.  It fired me up, even made me a little angry, and inspired me to be the best in the class.  I am so grateful for this teacher setting expectations as she did, and the reversed expectation it created for me.  It helped me to realize,

When someone says your efforts won't amount to anything, take the time to truly consider your position.  It might make sense to realign your energy to another project.  But, on the flip side, it might be a great catalyst to inspire you to buckle down and do better than anyone thought you could!

How have the expectations of others been a reversed expectation for you?