Rex Trulove
Sometimes, totally without rhyme or reason, a saying will pop into my mind and I’ll actually think about that saying. More often than not, it will bring a bit of humor to me, though I might have used that particular saying in the past and might even do so in the future.
I know that I’m not the only one who occasionally does this. However, to give an example before mentioning the one that prompted this post, I remember sitting at the table when I was 17. I was teasing my mother while we were eating, and she told me, “Shut up and eat.”
I’m the youngest of four kids and my eldest sister is 14 years older than me. By the time this event took place, I’d heard my mother tell one or the other of us countless times to shut up and eat. That particular day, I thought about the meaning of what she was saying, for the first time.
I carefully put down my fork, looked at her and said, “Mom, exactly how do I do that; shut up and eat?” Seconds later, everyone was laughing. My mother had never really thought about the implication and meaning of those words.
The saying that got my attention today and brought that laughter was one that I’ve heard hundreds of times, literally, and that I’ve also used many times:
Expect the unexpected
Think about that for a moment. If you expect the unexpected, it is no longer unexpected because you are expecting it. You can’t even truly prepare for the unexpected because you would need to have some expectations of the unexpected event first. You can only be well-prepared.
The saying, expect the unexpected, is at best a contradiction in terms. It has no meaning at all.
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Question of
Have you ever heard the phrase, “Expect the unexpected”?
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Yes
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No
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I’ve not only heard it used, I’ve used it
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Question of
Have you ever really thought about the meaning of “Expect the unexpected”?
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Yes
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No
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Plan for risk but don’t risk the plan.
I love the phrase, it is all about preparing for risk. The unexpected simply represents what we haven’t planned for.
That is quite true. Preparing for risk is merely being well-prepared. It is a good thing to be as prepared as possible, though we will never know everything that might happen in a given circumstance, so unexpected things do occur.
I sort of wonder how many people realize just how nonsensical expect the unexpected is. Even the boy scout motto is one that sounds great but which can’t be fully fulfilled, ‘Always be prepared’. The motto is a goal and it is a good one, but it isn’t achievable.
My motto has always been expecting today is the worst day of the week!
That *could* be an optimistic motto since it is almost always a better day than the motto would imply. The problem I see, though, is that it can also become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
my job is a self-defeating philosophy often.
Change is a giant beast (a sloth) that moves slower as the week progresses.
I had experienced this kind of implication to some people who don’t think before saying things in their mind.
That is a lot more common than most people actually realize.
Today I was wondering if I would get any payments so I was expecting the unexpected and Virily came through and I got paid.
Always on our toes, we cannot be complacent.
No, complacency is not usually a good thing. Many of our little sayings are those we usually don’t take time to think about, though.
I’ve learned to expect the unexpected here on Virily. Good article.
Nice Articles, thanks for Sharing.
In 21st century Expect the unexpected is very common
It sure is around here. Most people seldom give it a second thought (or a first one, for that matter).