My friend Dan Riley taught me, probably 25 years ago, a valuable lesson about the drift from Gratitude, to Expectation, to Resentment.

Let’s say you’re standing on the street corner, and someone walks up to you and hands you $100.  “Wow.  Thanks.”  You’re grateful.  Totally unexpected.  What a gift.

The next day, you’re at the same corner, same thing happens.  Still grateful, but you’re thinking, “You know what, I’m coming here tomorrow at the same time.”

So you show up the next day.  A little early.  Expectation.  And, sure enough…  $100.

This goes on for a little while, same corner, same $100.

And then, one day, your benefactor is late.
Or doesn’t show.
Kind of ticks you off.
“Where’s my $100?”

Brian Buffini says, “Everything you complain about is something you think you’re entitled to.”

Remember that all of it is a gift.