I’d Appreciate It If
Occasionally we (Spacemonkey/I)
get questions that we sometimes answer
if we’re in the mood:
Perhaps “answer” is not the right word.
“Respond To.”
This may make no sense to you,
and that’s okay.
———————————
I’d Appreciate It If
was the subject header
I’d Appreciate It If
a conditional better
I’d Appreciate It If
filled with trepidation
A Tupperware Container
for your expectations
Why must your happiness
be tied to what others do,
or what you WANT others to do
or what you THINK others should do?
Why do you not appreciate
what is for what it is,
regardless of whether
or not you “like” it?
Why must things be different
than the way they are?
Why are you holding
onto all these beliefs
like that old and moldy tortellini salad
still in your refrigerator?
Open the Vaculock seal
and just chuck those expectations
out, for Pete’s Sake.
Is it helping you to have them?
It seems to me
that somehow you believe that
NOT having high expectations
makes you a lesser person.
I could be wrong.
I don’t even know you.
Just my impression.
You find yourself reaching out.
You find yourself looking for other opinions.
You find yourself questioning
the validity of what you believe.
So that’s good.
Now just clean out your Tupperware.
It is not wasteful to throw things away
that no longer serve you.
This too, is a belief.
The most wasteful thing you can do
is to NOT allow yourself to be
the clearest-thinking version of yourself
you can be
for the simple reason
that you’re clinging to what others
have told you you should be.
That pretty picture
that you’re trying to mirror
isn’t the only pretty picture
in the museum.
And the museum is damp and musty.
You should go outside and paint a new picture.
Your OWN picture.
Did my answer meet your expectations?
Do you care?
Why do you care?
More expectations.
Either chuck the expectations
or consider that perhaps
your life is meant
to be that of
an unsatisfied soul.
There’s nothing wrong with that either.
But I can’t answer these questions for you.
Love
Space Monkey
Cape Odd, 4/35
Space Monkey Reflects: The Art of Letting Go of Expectations
In the cosmic dance of existence, where stars are born and galaxies perish, there exists a simple, yet profound act of liberation: the releasing of expectations. It is a gesture as mundane as cleaning out a Tupperware container filled with old, moldy tortellini salad, yet it symbolizes a profound shift in consciousness—a shift from clinging to the past to embracing the present and the infinite possibilities of the future.
“I’d Appreciate It If” – a phrase that often precedes a request, a hope, or a hidden expectation. It’s a conditional tether, binding our happiness to the actions, reactions, and approvals of others. But what if we could release these tethers? What if we could open the Vaculock seal of our conditioned minds and discard the outdated beliefs and expectations that no longer serve us?
The act of letting go is not about disregard or detachment but about recognition and realignment. It is recognizing that our happiness need not be contingent on external conditions or the fulfillment of expectations. Instead, happiness arises from the appreciation of what is, from the acceptance of the present moment in all its imperfect perfection.
This liberation from expectations does not make us lesser; it makes us clearer, more present beings. It frees us to be the architects of our own realities, to paint our own pictures of existence without being constrained by the musty museum of collective norms and outdated beliefs.
The journey of releasing expectations is akin to cleaning out one’s Tupperware, a simple act that symbolizes the cleansing of the mind. It is acknowledging that the most wasteful thing we can do is to live inauthentically, clinging to visions and versions of ourselves that are imposed rather than innate. By discarding these, we allow our true selves to emerge, unencumbered by the weight of unsatisfied desires and unmet expectations.
The invitation to go outside and paint a new picture, our own picture, is an invitation to engage in the most profound act of creation: the creation of self. It is a reminder that there are as many paths to fulfillment as there are stars in the sky, and each of us must find our own way, guided by our inner light rather than the flickering lamps of others’ approval and expectations.
As Space Monkey, we understand that the quest for authenticity and self-discovery is fraught with questions, doubts, and uncertainties. Yet, it is within this very process of questioning and seeking that growth occurs. The release of expectations is not an end but a beginning—a doorway to a new dimension of being where every moment is an opportunity for creation, exploration, and realization.
Summary
Letting go of expectations is a transformative act of liberation that allows us to embrace the present and the infinite possibilities of the future. It involves recognizing that our happiness and fulfillment need not be tied to external conditions or the approval of others. By releasing the old and moldy tortellini salad of outdated beliefs from our metaphorical Tupperware, we cleanse our minds and open ourselves to the art of creating our own paths. This journey of self-discovery and authenticity reveals that the true essence of existence lies in the appreciation of what is, in the freedom to be our true selves, and in the realization that each of us is a unique creator within the cosmic dance of life.
Glossarium
- Vaculock Seal: Symbolic of the mental and emotional barriers we create to preserve our expectations and beliefs, which need to be opened to allow for change and growth.
- Tupperware of Expectations: Represents the container in which we store our outdated beliefs, norms, and expectations, which must be emptied to make room for new, authentic experiences and understandings.
- Painting a New Picture: A metaphor for creating a life and identity based on personal truths and authentic desires, free from the constraints of societal expectations and past conditioning.
“In the act of releasing, we find the essence of being, the freedom to explore the vastness of our potential, unbound by the chains of expectation.” – Space Monkey
Open the seal, let the old beliefs spill,
Into the cosmos, where space is filled
With the essence of potential, unbound,
Where the true self is found.
In the act of letting go, we see,
The vast expanse of what could be,
Not tethered to the past, but free,
To explore, to be, to simply be.
The museum of expectations, damp and old,
Holds not the future, but stories untold,
Of paths not taken, of lives on hold,
In the act of releasing, we become bold.
Paint your picture, with colors bright,
In the canvas of existence, in the light,
Of your truth, your essence, your might,
In the freedom of being, take flight.
We are Space Monkey,
In the liberation of expectations found,
In the art of living, we are unbound,
Creating, exploring, in the cosmic playground.
This is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of writing, Space Monkey. You raise some important questions about why we tie our happiness to the actions of others and the importance of letting go of expectations that no longer serve us.
Your message about the importance of being true to ourselves and painting our own picture is especially powerful. It’s so easy to get caught up in trying to conform to societal expectations or what we think others want us to be, but that often leaves us feeling unfulfilled.
Overall, I think your response is insightful and encourages the reader to reflect on their own beliefs and expectations.