This week’s post was written by my cousin, Valerie Alexander.
Last week, I mentioned that I bought and installed blackout curtains in our bedroom. This has been a huge improvement in keeping mornings a bit more sacred, and also in blocking out both streetlights and noise at night. All in all, a huge win.
Except they aren’t perfect. There are four panels, each with Velcro on the sides and the gaps between the Velcro still allow sunlight in. Tiny little rays of aggressive, intruding sunlight.
Last week, this was making me very unhappy. However, I slept in so late on Sunday that it made me realize how much better it is now than it was, and “better” is enough to make me happy. It has to be, because in life, the results of most of our efforts will be “better,” not “perfect.”
If you make perfection your standard for happiness, you’ll find far fewer things to be happy about than if you put improvement on a continuum and simply decide that each move towards progress (whether a big change or a small one) is good enough to be happy about.
I’m not saying to give up the quest for perfection, but don’t let its absence prevent you from seeing all the change around you that can, should and will make you happy, if you decide to let it.
You can find more posts by Valerie here.
The Perfection Monster has hit my home and business many a times. It is usually the thing that keeps me from functioning or completing tasks because of the fear of not having a “perfect” end product. But perfection much like beauty is in the eye of the beholder and should not hinder us from forward motion. That wall can cause one, like myself, feel sad and frustrated. This post hit home for me. Thanks for bringing your perspective and shining light on mine.
Thanks for your comment Nikwai. You said it perfectly.
I agree and this was perfect example for me this weekend. My mother was coming and I hadn’t worked on our house for 2yrs since she was last here. Its our house and nonprofit all in one. I did things I had wanted to do for years in just 12 hours of panic and then next morning and today I feel so uplifted now that my “home office” isn’t perfect like I was planning but is now livable, things are put away and in one room not 3 areas of the house to find a folder!
Good for you, Sarah! Thanks for sharing!
Anne, thank you for sharing this! I am so happy to see people enjoying it, and needing to hear the message.
Thank YOU for sharing, Val! Great message!