Give Up On Perfection

"What is really hard, and really AMAZING, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of BECOMING YOURSELF."  -- Anna Quindlen

The best part of that quote is what came to me next:  ..." And realizing that you are amazing." Yup. Flaws and all.  Cellulite and all.  Less than ideal balance in the bank... and all.

Giving up on perfection is like quitting the hamster wheel.  It's utterly exhausting.  You think you have to run it and finally, you jump off.

I've been letting go of a lot lately.  Like dieting.  Mind you, I am eating healthy but I am allowing myself a treat here and there, wine with dinner, and an occasional bite of chocolate.  And the irony is, I haven't gained a single pound.

In the process of letting go, I've been consciously ALLOWING.

I'm allowing a very sweet man to be kind and generous to me without trying to prove my worth to him.  He thinks I'm great.  So, who am I to question or try to top that?

The unforeseen result of this is that I am much more present in my life.  In the process of letting go and allowing (aka JUST BEING ME), I am having new and fun experiences, am much more relaxed, and care less about what others think.

Now, don't get me wrong.  It's not all rainbows and unicorns.  In fact, I just had a really craptastic week. As a result, everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, fell by the wayside.  So I gave myself a day to recover.  Did I get up at dawn and go for a run?  No.  Did I cook our family meals for the week?  Don't be silly.  The perfectionist in me was nowhere to be found.  I slept in.  I went for an easy hike in a beautiful park with my sweet man.  I read my book while I treated myself to a pedicure.  I meditated and wrote this post.  And yes, I tidied up, did laundry, and went grocery shopping as well.  Like I said, it can't all be rainbows and unicorns.

What about you?  Are you ready to jump off that hamster wheel?  Yes, I am singling you out because believe me, the world needs wonderful YOU.  Not some Stepford Wife version of you.

Learn to appreciate and honor yourself.  Your quirks, your imperfections...even your penchant for bad reality TV.  WHO CARES?! Embrace it.  Own it.  Marinate in your own magnificence.

After all, the most important relationship you'll ever have is the one you have with yourself.

Inspired by Carolyn Duarte