My expectations during my teenage years was to become a world famous martial artist. Then after blowing out my knee, it changed to being a rich high-tech worker in Ottawa with a house, family and white picket fence.

During my twenties, I never expected to settle down. I realized how much life offered and felt myself to be a free-spirit that couldn’t be tied to just one place. I was a missionary, a magician, a student, a construction worker, an assembly line worker and a teacher. It never crossed my mind I would be married because that would involve settling.

Then I felt a need to plant some roots because I wanted a place to call home.

My expectations in my thirties have shifted a few times already, but lo and behold, I’m in Ottawa and have the house and family (no white picket fence or being a rich high-tech worker), so I guess my teenage self wouldn’t be too disappointed.

I expect my expectations for life will change again in a few years when I hit my forties.

What’s remarkable is listening to the expectations of my students (for themselves and others) and being able to empathize with them. In ten years, it’s probably going to change as they gain more life experience, but I hope they won’t be upset by it.

Our expectations in life should change as we move on in years — not all of them, but definitely some.

Life isn’t some linear pattern and changing expectations is a sign you are willing to embrace that things are going to change. It’s the very idea of change itself that gives us hope for a better tomorrow.

On that note, set your expectations high.

Even when they change, set them high.