The Pursuit of Perfection

On By AngeliaIn Beauty is on the inside, Life is what you make it.


Sorry for the imperfect picture-this was iPhone quality

I received this coupon in the mail a while back  (no, it wasn’t a hint-or was it?). The Perfect Image, a place of great change. As you can see, there are many services to make you “perfect”. A lot of them, I have never heard of. Then again, I just got my first massage in August. My first manicure/pedicure two years ago. What do I know?

This may come as a big shock, but I am not perfect. Siiigh. There, I said it out loud (sortof). I am so imperfect, it’s not even funny. Even if I had the money, and did all the above services, I would still be imperfect. This ad got me thinking, what is perfect, and the pursuit of it? Does anyone find it? If someone does find it, do they keep it?

Why? Why, do we have to be so perfect?

I’ll admit, I’m a perfectionist to a certain extent. I blame it on being born the cusp of Leo-Virgo. Virgo’s are perfectionist, Leos don’t care. I don’t read my horoscope or anything, just talking in general terms. Yes, I edit to death a post. I’ve even been known to go back and edit old posts. They are still not perfect, much to my dismay.

When Sydney was a toddler, I ordered some sticker books off the internet. They were so cool! They had these brilliant photos, with shapes outlined to match each sticker. I thought it would be so fun. She could place the stickers herself, as we read the book.

I noticed pretty quickly, she used all her concentration to place each sticker, perfectly. She would not put a sticker in the wrong spot, nor would she put it somewhere without an outline. Hard as I tried to get her to use her imagination, she was intent on the placement, exactly where it was supposed to go.

I, seriously, felt like a Mom failure. Here I was raised by a free thinking pre-school teacher. But there I go teaching my daughter to, literally, stay in the lines. I am pleased to report, as a teenager, she DID grow out of this. Her room? Yeah, no where near perfect. HA!

I’ve also relaxed my pursuit of perfectionism in most things. Maybe, it’s age. Maybe, it’s desire. Maybe, it’s time. Maybe, it’s just the realization that I will never be perfect. I am happy the way I am.

This blog is also not perfect. I don’t have a theme. I don’t have a genre. I don’t have a schedule. I don’t have any expectations. I didn’t begin to write it to be famous. I didn’t even write it for therapy. I just wanted to write, my story, because at the time, that was important. Okay maybe slightly therapeutic

Then it began to be other stories. Life stories, living stories, stories that shaped me. Loving stories, stories of heart and soul, stories that filled me up. Laughing stories, because if you can’t laugh at yourself, then who can you? I have to admit, I find so many things amusing.

Sometimes, I read other blogs that just blow me away. I wonder why I am blogging? I’ll never write as well as her. I’ll never have my punctuation or vocabulary up to that level. I don’t have that kind of talent or imagination. And I bet they don’t edit a gazillion times.

Maybe, I doubt because I’ve never had writing classes, college, or any other form of higher education. Just high school, and that was twenty years ago. But then I realize…..

This blog isn’t perfect, and will never be perfect, but with all the quirks and edits, it works just perfect for me.

On another blog note,
I have a new blog button thanks to Elizabeth at Confessions from a working mom.

Ain’t she sweet?? Thank you Elizabeth! I feel like I’ve arrived.

21 thoughts on “The Pursuit of Perfection”

  1. Thanks for your comment… It must have been telepathy, indeed.

    What you’re writing about perfection is just so true. Everybody’s trying to be perfect in everything they are or do, but imagine how boring life would be if we were all perfect. Everybody would be the same. No differentiation…

    Have a great weekend…

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  3. Very lovely post again, Angelia. I can relate to you. Perhaps that is why I like to read your stories, read about you, as a person. Nice example, how you described your daughter when she was a toddler.
    Have a great weekend!

    love
    Ellen

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  4. Angelia,
    Guess what?? I can so relate to kids who show their amazing imperfection in their rooms!!

    Moving on, though…

    Self-doubt. That’s one that I am sure many can relate to. I know that I can. I have these moments of questioning and wondering if I am good enough, or smart enough, or care enough, or etc, etc, etc. And such is life…and maybe that’s perfectly okay – that we are perfectly impefect. And that’s what I love here, Angelia…this sense of real-ness, that it’s you, as you are…

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  5. I love your blog. Like Lance said, you are REAL. I’d much rather have real than fake. As for the search for perfection, don’t get me started! I look at Hollywood and they young starlets like Heidi Montag and the things she has done to herself all in the pursuit of being perfect. All she has done is make herself look like an idiot! She was much prettier BEFORE IMHO. She was real… now shs’s just another fake wannabe. Truly sad.

    I love YOU just the way you are. I don’t like perfection because then I feel like I should be striving for it and I am so NOT! (striving or THERE)

    Have a great weekend!
    Peg

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  6. suzicate

    Angelia, It is you…the soul of you, the honesty, no pretensions that I love about you! I used to struggle with perfectionism, now I am what I am. As you, I write for me, whatever strikes my fancy, when others resonate that is wonderful, but first always I am true to myself, and I think you write that way as well. Who wants to be perfect…boring! And BTW, you had arrived long before you ever got a button, but I do like it!

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  7. You know, I’m seeing a lot of blog posts discussing perfection this week. I myself, confess to having written one myself! Is there something in the air we don’t all know about?

    I think your blog is perfect:)

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  8. Angelia. being imperfect is probably the best thing that has happened to me. I have discussed this topic in a guest post a while back because I was also so stunned how much perfectionism we are forced into these days.
    I think that it is fun to be imperfect because then you can be creative, you can be funny, you can be amazing and you can be extraordinary. None of those adjectives usually go with perfect in my opinion. When I hear perfect I always have that image of a rich aristocratic lady living in a mansion and doing everything she is supposed to (you know, the kind they show in the movies like). That’s not fun.
    I think it is also very important to see when you are trying too hard to be a perfectionist and just have enough courage to let go. I always remind myself “Good is good enough,” nobody except you will notice the difference between good and perfect in your opinion.

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  9. I am perfectly imperfect. And so are you. I would much prefer to be myself than anyone’s else’s image of perfect. Who needs that kind of pressure??

    Your blog is wonderful because it’s all you. Your heart and soul come shining through, reminding us all to be better people.

    ♥Spot

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  12. Gosh, girl, I am so far from perfect it’s not even funny. Maybe that’s why we relate so well?? 🙂 Really, though, I think age has a LOT to do with it. You just finally get comfortable in your own skin, your own mind… or at least that’s where we’re both at. And it feels pretty darn good, huh?

    All that said, ain’t nothing wrong with a Perfect Image massage to make you feel better though. Nothing wrong with that AT ALL. 😉

    Have a great weekend!

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  13. Peggy Nolan

    Angelia,

    I’ve been having a discussion on the Women Like Me forum (check out Wilma’s blog for details, but you really should consider joining) and we’ve been talking about how perfect we really are.

    You are perfect. You don’t need to pursue something that already is.

    Yoga teaches the same thing. Some days are better than others, but no matter what the outcome, we are all in a state of perfection.

    How could we not be? We are created in God’s image.

    xo
    Peggy

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  14. Hi! Found you through Friday Follow and I am now following! My blogs are # 166, 167 and 168.

    I am 45 now. Know waht? The more I “mommy” the better I am at letting go of perfect.

    Nice blog and button!

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  16. I don’t believe in doing things like pedicures to be perfect and to define a perfect person I’d say it’s no one, nobody can ever be perfect but we can all try to be perfect versions of who we are.
    I think who you are inside is what should be measured when someone is measuring another, we should look deep within a person to see who they are, are they living their lives happily, are they making others happy? And then maybe we can ask the perfect question.
    As for your blog and your writing, in my opinion they’re both perfect and I never lie. Your write great really, your writing tells they story step-by-step loud and clear, brilliant.

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  19. blissbait

    I beg to differ, Lovely Lady! In my eyes, You are BEAUTIFUL perfection and You gift me much, much, MUCH joy!!! Thank You and Cheers and Namaste. 🙂

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  21. Who knows what perfect is anyways, you just be yourself. We like you like that! I’m so far away from the word perfect, it has no meaning to me.

    I started writing just to try to improve my spelling and also let my family know what was going on with me. It just evolved from there, with no structure, just everyday junk that happened or crossed my mind.

    Love the button! What is it for?

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