Expectations v reality

[ellsbellls]

Just wondering why reality never seems to live up to expectations?

For context, I've been looking forward to an old friend's wedding for months. Bought a lovely new outfit which looks great (even if I say so myself) had my nails and hair done, even a spray tan (ridiculous amount of effort for me!) And now I'm here, I just feel a bit silly for having gone to so much trouble - it's a bit meh!

We had a small 'warm up' party last night and quite honestly I would have preferred to be at home or out with a few good friends.Forced chit chat with people I haven't seen in years. Even more forced chit chat with bride's friends and relatives that I have never met. I am not awkward socially so can totally manage all of this BUT I just can't be bothered!

To top it all off I had a few too many glasses of wine and a rubbish night's sleep and now I have to get up and do it all again - with bells on!

Probably just a bit of tiredness and a slight hangover talking but I just feel a bit silly for having looked forward to this for so long - and for getting a bloody spray tan! I'm 40. I should know what these events are like by now, I've been to enough of them. Does anyone else relate?

I know EXACTLY what you mean.

I was invited to a 'big' event at the end of last year. DH and I looked forward to it for ages. And it was just a bit shit. I think we'd looked forward to it too much! It's not like we never go out, we're out quite a lot, I don't really know why we didn't really enjoy it.

I hope you have a lovely time today though.

I think I felt a bit like that about my own wedding!

I think it’s the same with most things really if you build it up too much in your head. Can only lead to disappointment. Reality rarely matches expectations!

Fish and chips...I always really look forward to a 'chippy tea', and they smell divine, but I'm usually less than impressed when I start to eat them 😢 It's very disappointing 😔 (Exceptions have been whilst on holiday in Whitby...amazing fish and chips there!)

Most cakes

I love cake, really properly love it. And I eat it weekly. But rarely - maybe 20 times in 30 years has it ever exceeded expectations.

Lots of it is 'ok' and nice - just not totally amazing, best thing ever I've put in my mouth...

Ha! Thanks for these replies! I cheered up and had a great time!

I think it’s because when you really look forward to something you forget almost that you’re still YOU and in doing the thing it suddenly becomes less exciting by virtue of you being there. I went to a famous landmark with a friend who had dreamed about going there and she seemed almost sad. I asked why. She said that it was neat and all but she’d almost expected the experience to be like angels singing and bells clanging. Instead she said ‘I’m a bit hungry and I really need to wee’

I sometimes wonder if it's an age thing - now I'm heading rapidly towards 50, I find things no longer blow me away. I used to get wrapped in films, books, tv now they all seem a bit bleh. Places and events are ok but never that exciting. And the same with cake or eating out...again all a bit bleh.