When my Mother died and I was a bit distressed about the details, my Brother gave me good advice “Death is messy. Let it go.”
Well, so is life.
Low self esteem used to be a big issue, but a greater problem exists in our society – perfectionism. The two may be related.
People want everything perfect, our standards impossibly high and for, what, exactly?
Does having the perfect anything bring happiness? Joy? Egads – satisfaction?!
Satisfaction comes from accepting what is, the flaws, those minor annoyances that make us human and our lives unique. Perfection, if it can be attained, cannot be sustained. Satisfaction comes from making do.
I know people who are miserable over millimeters. They measure everything, demand symmetry that only micrometers could detect. They live in fear and torment because life will not give them perfection. But I ask, what does having everything perfect give you? And do you think that anyone even remotely cares or notices? Seriously now. Life is very, very messy.
Flawless. What do you have that is flawless, except in your own eyes? It is by your own standards. To you your car is a piece of junk, to another it is like gold. Your spouse is a chump, to another, Adonis or Aphrodite.
There are flaws and sometimes blatant mistakes in all I create. Errors in perspective, colours, proportions in my art. Spelling, grammar, punctuation in my writing. I do the best I can, I am not deliberately sloppy, but I am human. Many creatives are using computers to make flawless drawings, mesmerizing photo’s and films, and it is all good, but a tad sterile. Don’t we all love the bloopers? The vapour trails in a sky in a film about cavemen? 3D printers are awesome, but I’d rather have something made by hand. The flawed item has a bit of its’ creator in it.
Which, by the way, we are.
Well that was perfect!