Talking with Martha

Some how this seems pertinent to Rosh haShanah

I love my friend, Martha. We are on the same page concerning so many issues. This morning, Martha and I had a telephone conversation. A friend of hers started seeing a girl...they broke up. Martha's friend said, "that's what I get for having expectations." Martha and I agree that this is a prime example of the misuse of a new-age platitude. Here is our line of reasoning:
Typically, events have a beginning, a middle, and an end. We decide what we'd like to accomplish, put energy and effort into it, and then reflect on our progress. In the case of Martha's friend, she quite naturally expected a relationship to develope from their repeated contact. She may have to come up with a new plan of action to get the result she's come to expect. If she had no expectations, would she ever have put forth the initial effort?
There are many people who simply let life happen to them. They live like zombies. Perhaps, having expectations would get them at least a few steps foreward.
One of the themes of Rosh haShannah is personal evaluation.
Have I lived up to (insert: my, God's, family, community) expectations? It is a good thing to make commitments. It is a better thing to follow through with them.
To read more about teshuva, go here: Done something wrong? We all have. Here's how to fix it!