You've lived in about a dozen places

You have not been happy anywhere you have ever lived. There is a story that may go a long way toward explaining your problem.

A man was walking down the road when another one came up to him and said, "hey, have you lived here a long time?"

"I have."

"Do you know anything about the people in the next town? What are they like?"

"What town were you in last? And what were the people like there?"

"Oh I just came from x place and the people there were great. Really friendly, nice local businesses, I hope the next town is like that too."

"Well I think you'll like it just as well there. You'll see a lot of the same things."

Pretty soon another one came up to him and said, "hey, have you lived here a long time?"

"I have."

"Do you know anything about the people in the next town? What are they like?"

"What town were you in last? And what were the people like there?"

"Oh I just came from x place and the people there were pretty terrible. Nasty, dirty, I hope the next town is better."

"Well unfortunately I don't think you'll like the next town much better. You'll probably see a lot of the same things."

The man's young daughter overheard this and asked why he told the one to expect good things and the other bad.

"I didn't have to tell them anything. They expect what they expect already. The first traveler will find the good he expects. The second will dwell on the negative and be disappointed everywhere he goes. You and I are happy here because we expect the best, and when we encounter something bad, we either make it better, or if we can't, we distance ourselves. That's all anyone can do anywhere. Every place is a mixed bag, but we have choices."

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anonymous Other December 09, 2025 at 2:06 pm 0 0