On Monday, I wrote a post about the elusive concept of "perfection" and how damaging it can be when we make perfection our goal -- whether it's our bodies, our careers, our relationships or any other aspect of our lives. Today, I want you to stop and think about perfection for a minute. For me, when something is perfect, it's just...perfect. There's really nowhere else to go with it. Perfect is actually quite generic, when you think about it, with nothing to distinguish it beyond its "perfect" label.
Perfect, dare I say it, is also sort of boring.
It's why I like to watch college basketball, but you'll rarely catch me watching the NBA. It's why I'll always choose a live recording by my favorite artist over the smooth studio version. It's why candid photos of my kids are almost always my most treasured, even though I've shelled out big bucks for professional portraits. The flaws, rough edges and unguarded moments are what make things interesting and beautiful in their own unique way.
It's tempting to want to hold our bodies to a higher standard, but look around you. Rarely do you see an image of "perfection" walking down the street. But I'm willing to bet that if I ask you to, you can find something beautiful or interesting about every person you see today. It's all about what you choose to see.
Re-defining "perfect" is something each of us can do every day.
For an interesting take on what "real" women's bodies look like, read this post by Chris at Formerly Fun.
It's the imperfections that we always adore in others- so we should learn to appreciate the imperfections in ourselves, too! It's the quirks that make us unique.
Posted by: Sagan | 06/17/2009 at 08:11 AM
I totally agree. I think that's why I like watching "Dancing With The Stars" because you watch these supposedly "perfect" celebrities screwing up and being self-conscious. You can actually relate to them!
Posted by: Robin | 06/18/2009 at 06:55 PM
Thanks, Sagan and Robin, for stopping by with comments. And Robin, I agree -- our "imperfections" make it easier for others to relate to us sometimes.
Posted by: Dara Chadwick | 06/19/2009 at 06:47 AM