Perfectionism: Do you struggle with perfectionism? I do; I think in some ways I always have. I remember my dad saying when I was younger, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right.” He’d also say, “If you don’t have time to do it right the first time, you won’t have time to go back and do it again to fix it.”
I have struggled with perfectionism for a very long time. One particular day, we were getting our first house ready to list for sale, and I had cleaned literally all day. I cleaned the floors in our bathrooms with a toothbrush, and the window sills and sliding glass door frame with q-tips. I was exhausted by the end of the evening.
Finally, I sat down to enjoy some television with John and as the sun was setting, a ray of light passed over a lampshade. Do you know what I saw? Dust. That’s right! Dust. All over the lamp shade.
Still Struggling
At that point in time, I realized that no matter how hard I worked, or how much time I spent, I would never – NEVER – be able to get it all done, or do it all perfectly. I still struggle with the desire for perfection. It’s nice to have all my floors cleaned and all my sinks shining. I want my clothes laundered, ironed, and hanging neatly in the closet, organized by color.
The day I took the photo above, I had arranged the pillows, dusted the furniture, and wiped down the leather sofa. There was a smudge on the coffee table from a candle wick gone awry. The books were askew and the lighting wasn’t perfect. As I picked up my camera, I turned around and saw our sweet, elderly dog had pulled down one of the pillows, snuggled herself right in, and fell asleep. I didn’t have the heart to disturb her. To her…that was perfect.
Be Happy with Imperfection
I believe there is merit in being real. So much we see online is made to be perfect. The lighting is perfect. The photos are perfect. The cushions are arranged perfectly. The books on the coffee table are stacked neatly AND color coordinated.
If that is the type of content you are hoping to see here, you’re probably in the wrong place. I’ll never be perfect, and neither will my photos. What you will find is real life, real smudges, real books, and a stray remote or two. What you’ll hear are stories of how we live, where we live, the adventures we are taking, and the life-lessons we’re learning along the way.
If you’re looking for real beauty in imperfection, instead of chasing the impossible, then welcome! You’re in the right place.
