Laurie

Imperfectly Perfect

Meditations in Motion

“Instead of thinking things have to be a certain way before we can enjoy them, what if we dare to enjoy them even in their imperfection.” Emily P. Freeman

I was thinking about perfection one day last week during a short run in the countryside. At this time of year, it seems as though nothing in nature is perfect.

In April, each budding flower is newly formed, fresh-faced, faultless, and young; by early September every flower I see is afflicted with powdery mildew, black spot, gray mold, rust, blight, root rot, or scab. If I search for perfect flowers to cut and put in a vase on my dining room table, I am frustrated and my vase is empty.

I feel a little bit worse for wear myself right about now, how about you?

What if, I think, I allow myself to love my life as it is, imperfections and all, rather than striving for it to be perfect? What if I learn to appreciate the process of becoming the person I am meant to be?

Meditations in MotionCould I invite guests to our house without vacuuming? Show up at a race without training and run it “just for fun”? Serve scrambled eggs and toast for dinner, for heaven’s sake?

Perfection really isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. The pursuit of perfection is exhausting, anxiety-producing, and doomed to failure.

Accepting our true selves as we work toward our goals is an accomplishment to be proud of. We should be gratified with the progress we have made, rather than bemoaning how far we have to go.

I should give myself a pat on the back and take my lesson from the September flowers, beautiful even with their many imperfections.

 

I am linking with Cee’s Flower of the Day, Welcome Heart for Let’s Have Coffee, Debbie at Dare 2 Hear,  Amy at Live Life Well, Raisie Bay for Word of the Week, Susan B Mead for Dancing With Jesus, Embracing the Unexpected for Grace and Truth, Random-osity for Little Things Thursdays, Reflections From Me for A Blogging Good Time, Knit by God’s Hand for Thankful Thursdays, and Morgan’s Milieu for Post, Comment, Love.

Please click on the following link to read more funny or inspirational one-liners. One-Liner Wednesday.

Meditations in Motion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

60 comments

  6. I agree – our pursuit of perfection isn’t healthy. The process of becoming is more fun to enjoy when we’re not so hard on ourselves. I saw a meme this week about September representing the month of change, and how wonderful it is to embrace change at this time of year. Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!

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    • As a former teacher, I always thought of September as the beginning of the year – time to make resolutions and new beginnings – rather than January! Thank you, Shelley. Hope you have a wonderful week too!

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      • That makes perfect sense! As we walked this week, it was the first day of school for many of the kids on our walking route. It was fun to see them smiling as they waited for the bus. In the Spring when school is about to end, they don’t look so happy…more tired and ready to be done with the year! Enjoy your new beginnings for this month!

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  11. If we were perfect, we might not be here is a philosophy of some Eastern thought. (i.e., we’ve become enlightened and don’t need to incarnate again).

    I’m so glad to not be perfect and to have this chance at life and to keep trying one day at a time. I have to remember this when I get down on myself for not being perfect. I’m so much better than I was – it comes from age and wisdom and learning to love myself.

    Great thoughts!

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    • I never thought of perfection in that way (we might not be here if we were perfect). I need to remind myself of the same things – I am not perfect and I never will be. We can only hope to get better than we were yesterday. Thank you!

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  13. Isn’t it amazing how God uses things like flowers to remind us of His heart for us?

    I’m not great at embracing the process of who I am. I think I need to become. But I’m learning there is no arrival. There is no finish line. The becoming is the point.

    (Side note: I am learning this, but I don’t always like it.)

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    • Yes, so true, Rebecca. I just need to tell myself to LOOK for the reminders. You are exactly right – there is no arrival. We just need to try to be a little bit better today than we were yesterday. I don’t always like it either! 🙂

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  15. i love this post, friend! perfection is so absolutely exhausting, a never-ending search for something that won’t be found on this earth. and oh so tiring to be around.

    i’ll be remembering this post as i continue to work on keeping my flowers and plants thriving as we head into fall.

    so grateful that God loves us in spite of all our flaws, too …

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  22. I am trying to find the silver linings at the moment – have to admit to this not being my favourite time of the year. I am not made for the cold weather, despite living in the North West! It doesn’t help that we didn’t have a great summer. A gorgeous rose image though to brighten up the day – what a beautiful colour! Sim x #PoCoLo

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    • I am not a huge fan of winter, either. One bright spot for me recently is planning a trip to visit my sister in sunny Florida this January. I hope to escape the worst of the winter here! Hope you can find some silver linings too! 🙂

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  26. September flowers are beautiful even with the imperfections and it’s a good reminder that there is plenty of beauty in imperfection. It’s hard not to get caught up into wanting perfection but I agree that it’s good to embrace the imperfections too. #WotW

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