– Jodi Picoult
So many times in my life, I have met a new friend and been so excited because finally, I had met someone who seemed to be the perfect pal I had been looking for all my life. Of course, as I got to know them better, they would eventually do something that bothered or disappointed me, and I would learn that they were in fact not divinely designed just to please me. We all have a tendency to focus on the pea under the mattress, by which I mean that one little irritation that really bugs us, as opposed to the vast expanse of our experience that is wonderfully smooth and comfy. No matter how wonderful someone may be, they will sometimes say and do things that disappoint, irritate, hurt or even outrage us. The more we grow to accept and expect this, the easier it is to keep our hearts open to a colorful array of wonderful people, and to enjoy our journeys through life instead of being endlessly upset and annoyed.