[Image credit: Danilo Rizzuti]

Not too long ago I blogged about my attempts to minimize my expectations to avoid disappointment.  But recently I’ve discovered the best kind of surprise is when hopes are surpassed.  It’s like a custom-made gift just for me and I can’t help but wonder if maybe I’ve been looking at it all wrong.  So rather than holding back and anticipating less than I desire, I plan to set my sights higher and anticipate more than.  Not only will I be forced to work harder for each outcome, but when reality threatens to derail me from time to time, I will simply pick myself up where I left off and know I’m becoming stronger throughout my journey.  And when the surprises do pop up along the way, I will cherish them for what they are: encouraging little pats-on-the-back to continue following my dreams.

Do you consider yourself a dreamer or a realist … or maybe a little bit of both?