Wednesday, June 19, 2013

TRYING TO BE PERFECT






Why do I care if things are perfect or not?

Okay, as a writer -- muddy ideas, ungrammatical sentences, and typos are like food spots on my clothes --it says I'm careless and distracts readers from the point I'm trying to make!  I've got to strive for perfection in my work.

And yes, I have to look right. If I'm wearing makeup --base, mascara, lipstick -- I can't have specs, blotches, or smudges; hair has to be arranged flatteringly, neatly in the hairstyle I've been wearing for a long time. Before I venture outside, I need to look pulled-together, as attractive as possible. The way I look affects clerks who are helping me when I'm shopping -- it affects the doctor, lawyer, or anyone I'm consulting. And employees --cleaning woman, janitor, various fix-It people -- they function better if I'm  pulled-together, nice looking.

When it comes to how you look, striving for perfection is essential.

Gee, when does it NOT matter if I'm perfect or not? When is it okay to be me -- just me in whatever mood or state that I'm actually in?

When I'm talking with my son, it's better for him if I hide my moodiness, depression, or confusions. He functions better when I'm pulled-together, organized, sensible and logical -- unencumbered by imperfections.

Gee,  holy cow, holy smoke, holy minorka, good God -- the only person with whom I can be the real me is that guy who is my husband -- John, who likes-loves-respects-supports-cares for me even if  I'm  cranky-sloppy, off-balance-neurotic, selfish, babbling-illogical, food spotted, not pulled together, making dreadful typos because...

Hey, I'm him -- he's me -- PERFECTION is just something we humans strive for like Godliness.





6 comments:

Poet_Carl_Watts said...

The thing that is interesting, likeable about you is you. Clothing, make-up, etc do not make you but can help project a positive and aesthethic view of you. Once people know you, the trimmings are not important :-) #KnowledgeIsPower! #AwesomeTeam♥#Odycy☮:-)

Carola said...

You came up with a good term "pulled together." Pulled Together is not the same as Perfect. It is a much more reasonable goal.

Anonymous said...

This is great, we all try, some reach the goal better than others but those that do try feel better about themselves, eh? Love and Hugs, H. xxxxooo

Anonymous said...

I can't remember when the last time was that I was perfect or pulled together. When I go to the dr I try to look decent and always shower before hand. My daily look is comfortable and not aspiring to please anyone. Never have been nor want to be PERFECT...just be me. kam

Anonymous said...

Gee Me I am not perfect. I wrote a book when I was very sick to help ease my mind from being sick. (cancer)Anyway I paid two women to edit my book, gee, I had faith in them but after it was published it still was NOT perfect. No one can be perfect. I don't worry about looking my best. I do try to be neat when I go out any where. I am just plain me. Like me for who I am and not what you think I should be. One more thing, I read my book to my self and thought Good Golly, story is good, editing is not so good.
If we accept our self for who we are then why on earth strive to place more stress on our self trying to be perfect. I was never the sharpest tool in the shed, meaning I am not perfect or smart. I can fit in with anyone, because I am me, not trying to be perfect for others. See what I mean I even jump from one thing to another, so is that perfect. NO. Jan

Maureen Jacobs said...

Passionate people tend to be overly passionate about perfection. Why is that? Well, we think everything we do is a reflection of ourselves. Be it writing, walking, cleaning, mowing the lawn, etc, we want everything to be just so. Being a perfectionist can also wreak havoc with our schedules. That is when the need to be perfect bleeds into Obsessive Compulsive Behaviour. Either way, working towards a lofty goal is healthy as long as it is not overdone. Realize that in your quest for perfection, mistakes are the only thing teaching you about humility.