Chinese Take-out
May 17, 2010 
I have this thing about Chinese. When I love it, I LOVE it. And when I don’t, buy yourself some earplugs, because I am not afraid to express my opinion. Needless to say, I’m always a little reticent to try new places. More often than not, I’m disappointed. So instead of eating Chinese, I dream of the good stuff from where I grew up.
The thing is, my husband doesn’t have my reservations. To him, it’s all more or less the same. He’s happy with whatever, he’d just like something.
So, tonight, I gave in. Called a few friends, got a few recommendations. And gross. Blah. Blah. Blah.Yicky. Picky. Snort.
“I’m sorry I even suggested it,” my husband said.
And then the epiphany came. From my own mouth even: “Well, you never know if you don’t try.”
I know, you’re all probably thinking, ‘Well duh!’
I wonder how many things I’ve not tried because I didn’t want to be disappointed. Learning a new skill. Sending off the next query. Taking risks with my characters. Bidding on that full manuscript critique over at Do The Write Thing. Whatever.
How about you? Is fear of disappointment holding you back?
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With food, I'm like that too. I know what I like and pretty much stick to some variation of it. There's nothing worse than being disappointed in a meal.
But other than that, fear of disappointment doesn't stop me. If I decide to do something, I give it my best and go for it.
My son was just mentioning this weekend that he wanted Chinese food. Needless to say he didn't get it, lol.
Fear of disappointment has stopped me from doing some things.
I also agree with your epiphany. I've got to be willing to try a few more things without worrying if I'll be disappointed.
Thanks for sharing.
Absolutely! It's why I order the same thing at restaurants all the time!
But with other things, like writing, the hope seems to outweigh the fear of disappointment.
Same! Once in a while I'll force myself to branch out and try something new, but I am a creature of habit. I figure if it's worked for me every time in the past, it will continue to work so why change a good thing while it's going? 🙂
As a fellow conaseur of chinese take out- I think this is an awesome analogy:)
Wow, I am EXACTLY the same way about Chinese food. Very, very, very picky. I guess I'm spoiled because I know what kind of quality you CAN get, and there's so much out there that's sub-par.
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Hope to see you around there again sometime. You've got a new follower in me! Looking forward to reading more of your posts.
i love that you broke past your fears and stepped forward! that's what it's all about, no?
my fingers are crossed for your success 😀
It must be a Sumner thing. Kim does not like to go to Chinese restaurants at all unless it is to the Golden Dynasty or ABC.
I order the same this all the time. I go with good intentions and then fall back, I can't help it. lol.
Oh, forgot to say thanks for stopping by my blog and being the 99th follower. 🙂
That's exactly why I finally got off my butt and started to write…because I'll never know if I don't try.
Incidentally, I used to have a pitcher JUST like the one in the photo. I used to make baby formula by the pitcher, so I could pour/heat just what baby needed. Way to take me back!
Janet–We had Chinese last night. It was wonderful, but must of had a lot of sodium in it. (swollen fingers in the morning) I did step out of my comfort zone and ordered a different dish than normal.
Yeah I know this is supposed to be deeper than just what we had for dinner…We have to get out of our comfort zones and not be afraid to try something and find out that we don't like something. It's okay to not like something. 🙂
If it makes you feel any better, Chinese food is my great culinary disappointment too. I have only found a couple of resturaunts in my life that I can actually say are good.
And yes! Fear of disappointment holds me back more than fear of failure. I don't even allow myself to get excited about requests anymore because I'm so certain (in my mind) they'll pass in the end. Jaded much? Yes. Yes, I am. (I'll work on that!) LOL.
It's hard for me to find great Chinese here. I'm a bit spoiled, though, because I found the very best Chinese in Hong Kong and the Americanized Chinese very rarely compares to it. Lots of great seafood there! Very glad I was lucky enough to get HK as a port visit.
For me, it's the fear of disappointing myself that often holds me back. I'm trying to leave that all behind, but it can be a struggle sometimes. I just need to recognize when I'm doing that to myself.
Thank you for following my newbie blog!
Oh YEAH– big time! you go, girl!
I just got over a year-long aversion to asian food. We went out for Hibachi on my birthday, and they fried everything in butter (but I could see it was actually margarine…liars.) Anyway, butter-covered-steak? Yuck. Done with asian food again.
Anyway, I wish my husband would eat anything. He's pickier than me. Good luck querying.