The Farm Wife Sagas

There’s a saying I’ve been holding onto lately: “Don’t expect you from other people.”

Simple words, but wow they’ve been sitting heavy on my heart these past few weeks.

Life has been full of changes recently, and with changes come new situations, new challenges, and sometimes new disappointments. What’s really caught me off guard, though, is realizing just how differently people handle things compared to how I would. It shocks me sometimes like, wait, that’s how you’re choosing to deal with this? Because in my head, I would have done things completely differently.

But here’s the thing: that’s me. That’s how I would react.

And then someone very prominent in my life gently reminded me: “You can’t expect people to handle things the way you would.” Isn’t that the truth?

We all filter life through our own experiences, personalities, and values. The way I might confront an issue head-on, someone else might choose to avoid. The way I might extend grace, someone else might hold a grudge. The way I might overthink every detail, another person might let it roll off without a second thought.

At first, those differences can feel frustrating. But when I step back, I realize those differences don’t mean one of us is right and the other is wrong…they just mean we’re wired differently.

And maybe that’s the beauty of it.

Because if everyone thought and acted exactly like me, we’d miss out on so many perspectives. We’d miss out on the balance that comes from people approaching life in their own unique ways.

So, I’m learning to loosen my grip on expectations. To stop assuming others will show up, react, or handle things the way I would. And honestly? It’s a lot more freeing.

If you’ve been struggling with unmet expectations, maybe this reminder is for you too: Don’t expect you from other people. Let them be who they are, while you stay grounded in who you are.