“There is nothing more rare, nor more beautiful, than a woman being unapologetically herself; comfortable in her perfect imperfection. To me, that is the true essence of beauty.” *
Image by photographer Kate Holliday, Rebelle Films
To be perfect an object has to be measured against another object. You realize I said “object” not a person. A circle can be perfect. A square can be perfect. Inanimate objects may be considered perfect or imperfect but living entities by their very nature are not meant to be perfect. The whole concept of perfection is not even something that should be applied to people. Do you realize how hard it is to even imagine you can be perfect? Why would you want to be? Being perfect leaves no room for mistakes. It leaves no room for improvement. If you are perfect, you might as well take a seat in the perfect chair and stay there because at any time a movement, a thought, an emotion can render you what may be considered imperfect in some way.
Image by photographer Kate Holliday, Rebelle Films
I spent a lot of years trying to be perfect – perfect in school, perfect in sports, perfect in looks, the perfect daughter, the perfect friend, the perfect athlete, the perfect wife, the perfect employee – perfect, perfect, perfect! I either wanted to scream or shut down completely because it is not attainable!! We are not meant to be perfect. If that were the case what would be your purpose in life? We learn only through our mistakes and failures. We grow by constantly learning and changing and giving of ourselves to others. Through that giving of ourselves does that mean that we are no longer complete? No longer perfect? Because my hair is different or my nose is different am I not perfect when compared to you?
Photograph by photographer Kate Holliday, Rebelle Fims
See that’s the problem – to be perfect you have to be compared to someone else. You have to stop seeing you and see only what is deemed as lacking in you by others. When you accept who you are you will see your unique gifts, your perfect imperfections and your beauty inside and out. If you imagine everyone else around you as more perfect than you then all you want to do is to change yourself in ways that may be not only selfish but self-destructive. Everything about you is what you are meant to be in order to be the unique, beautiful, complete you. If you start your journey at that point then everything else you do is not to achieve a higher level of perfection but to live a fuller, richer life!
*Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience
What a great read. I needed the reminder 🙂
So true & well said! I am not perfect nor do I want to be….that would just be boring!
But I strive to be the best version of myself.