Nothing is a fixed experience because nothing stays the same. We tend to forget this. When an experience is especially good, we place unrealistic expectations on it to remain the same forever. Because of this, the good experiences inevitably disappoint us.

Think of it like going on the most gorgeous vacation of your life. It’s so gorgeous, it breaks your heart to leave. You return to the same destination the following year expecting the same gorgeous experience, but the vacation leaves you disappointed. This disappointment is because no vacation is the same. Even if you replicate every aspect of the vacation––the destination, the people, the rituals, the restaurants, the conversations, etc––it's never the same.

Why? Because you aren’t the same. Your preferences have changed. Your thoughts have changed. Your philosophies have changed. Your beliefs have changed.

We should hold onto good experiences with loose grips. We should hold onto them just long enough to allow them the chance to take our breath away and then, we should let them go. And, with this letting go, we should let go of our expectations for future experiences. Expectations are simply a side-effect of comparing two separate experiences. Never compare experiences. Treat each experience as if it is new.