We are all wonderful, beautiful wrecks.  That’s what connects us—that we’re all broken, all beautifully imperfect.  ~ Emilio Estevez

Greetings, Salutations, Howdy and Hola Tushkateers,

How are y’all doin’ this fabulous day?  Feeling accepting and happy with your SELF?   Based on emails that I received from Tushkateers across the land and a few conversations I’ve had this past week with coaching clents (one-on-one clients who are creating lives of dreams and purpose), a great deal of us wish to be (more) perfect and (more) normal.

Perfect and Normal!!!  What does perfect and/or normal look like to you?
Take a moment, please, to consider what these words mean to you (be specific).  Then, ask yourself to imagine what “perfect/normal” looks like to you?

With regard to healthy living, some think perfect/normal means that they are going to create a healthy living plan that includes but is not limited to:  the “right” foods, exercise, logging in 8 to 10 hours of sleep every night, meditation, journaling, being kind, never complaining, and that they are going to stick to their plan 100% of the time!

In his book, “Living Wabi Sabi,” Taro Gold writes:  “Those who inspire us most do not achieve perfection through greatness: They achieve greatness through imperfection. All of the world’s best-loved truth-seekers and religious figures, including Jesus and Buddha, led obviously less-than-perfect lives and were the first to let us know that they, too, were not perfect people….”

Perfection is a fruitless endeavor, and it causes much (optional) suffering (the kind you inflict upon yourself when you really, really do not have to, not that you ever have to, but that’s another blog post for sure).

Mistakes, failure and imperfection have created life changing explorations and ‘happy accidents.’
Did you now that mistakes (a form of imperfection; because if you were perfect you wouldn’t make a mistake, would you?) have led to the discovery of DNA, penicillin, aspirin, X-rays, Teflon, Velcro, nylon, cornflakes, Coca-Cola, and chocolate-chip cookies?

Can you imagine what it would be like if you woke up and everything went the way you wanted it to go? Exactly? I mean everything!  From the moment you woke up till the end of the day … perfect.  There would be no challenge.  There would be no growth.

Are you familiar with the movie “Pleasantville” (video link) starring Reese Witherspoon and Tobey McGuire (1998)?  Robert McDaniel of Film and History described the town of Pleasantville as the perfect place, “It never rains, the highs and lows rest at 72 degrees, the fire department exists only to rescue treed cats, and the basketball team never misses the hoop.” However, McDaniel says, “Pleasantville is a false hope. David’s journey tells him only that there is no “right” life, no model for how things are “supposed to be’.”

Consider the following definitions of the words normal and perfect.

The dictionary definition of normal is:
Conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural.  Approximately average in any psychological trait, as intelligence, personality, or emotional adjustment.

The dictionary definition of perfect is:
Conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type.  Exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose.  Entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings.  Accurate, exact or correct in every detail. Pure or unmixed.

NOW…ask yourself, “Why oh why would I want to be perfect and/or normal?”

If you’d like to take this a step further, how about you observe your imperfections with an open eye and from this “enlightened,” imperfect perspective make note of three things that are ‘not normal’ and/or ‘imperfect’ about you that you wouldn’t change for the world and what it is about that ‘part’ of you that is so appealing.

What a great day this is!!!! Overflowing with glorious imperfections, embracing, loving SELF in every moment.

For more Glorious Imperfection, visit: Facebook/Kick in the Tush Club.

Spread the word–NOT the icing

Janice

PS:  Dictated but not read by OLWL.  Excuse all typos!

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