Which reminds me of the pithy aphorism – Insanity is doing the same thing but expecting a different outcome.

Dr.Mani

That “safe walking” sign in your example may not function the way it was intended (i.e., to alert people it’s safe to walk), due to the unintended actions of others. However, if you adjust YOUR expectations, the sign works quite well — as a warning, not a beacon.

You EXPECTED your package to get there on time because you paid for it to do so… but what you’ve really learned is to train yourself to get things done earlier so you can avoid using USPS altogether.

You EXPECT your bank to function properly, but now you’ve learned to view your bank as a conquerable challenge, rather than an ally.

Annoying? Yes, in all cases. But since personal responsibility seems to be an old memory these days, we can still use old expectations to get by — we just have to flip them.