when will/did you trade expectations for surprise?

Answer 1

You wont, if you are a reasonable person.

Expectations = Those are under YOUR control. You put in the work, ergo you expect the reward.
SURPRISE= Those are given to you, therefore is under SOMEBODY ELSE'S control. It means that no matter how much effort, or work you may give/have given, there is a stopcock and someone manipulates the trickle of rewards.

Reasonable people usually expect.