So tomorrow is Thanksgiving and honestly, I was prepared to sit down and write a very serious post about being thankful for my body and its good health. I am, of course, thankful for my body and its good health. But I'm also thankful for what I've learned over the last few years.
In that spirit, I give you my top 5 reasons I'm thankful that I'm not perfect. Here goes:
- Perfect is boring. That's why I love amateur sports, children's artwork and live music. Our "flaws" are what make us special and unique. Really.
- Perfect is exhausting. Ever had people in your life with whom you felt like everything had to be "just so?" You know those people who'd be horrified if they walked into the morning chaos in your house? Now, compare that to the easy feeling you have with a good friend -- the one who just brushes away the crumbs on the counter and pretends not to see the dog hair on the floor. When you're not trying to appear perfect, you don't have to work so hard.
- Perfect is lonely. Trying to make someone think you don't have any flaws or faults or insecurities keeps them from getting to know the real you -- and you from getting to know them. "Perfection" can be a wall.
- Perfect is unsustainable. Nothing stays the same. Lives change, feelings change and bodies most definitely change. All we can do is learn to recognize glimpses of perfection in the ordinary moments of every day -- and be grateful for them.
- Perfect isn't real. But happiness is. And fortunately, the first isn't necessary to achieve the latter.
I'm grateful for my perfectly imperfect healthy body and my messy, flawed life.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Great post!
Have a good one~
Your imperfect friend,
Irene
Posted by: Irene S. Levine, PhD | 11/25/2009 at 09:32 AM
I love it! perfection is over-rated for sure!
love, Anna Cano Morales
Posted by: Anna Cano Morales | 11/25/2009 at 04:47 PM
Thanks, Anna...so nice to see you here!
Posted by: Dara Chadwick | 11/29/2009 at 04:16 PM
Thanks, Irene :-)
Posted by: Dara Chadwick | 11/29/2009 at 04:17 PM
Hi Dara!
I love this post. First, it was so creative and inspiring to use reverse psychology. I agree with everything you said!
My favorite one is, "Perfect is unsustainable," because everything in life is constantly changing. Also - one person's definition of perfect might be very different from someone else's definition. There is absolutely no keeping up and no way of pleasing everyone.
Love this post! Hope you're doing well!
-Jessica
Posted by: Jessica Klein | 12/03/2009 at 12:17 PM