per⋅fect [adj., n. pur-fikt; v. per-fekt] : entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings
It deeply saddens me to look at this week’s People Magazine feature story. I’m not sure what is worse—the fact that a very pretty 23 year-old felt the need to have ten plastic surgeries in one day, or the fact that People Magazine thought it was front cover newsworthy.
The desire to be perfect is a dangerous obsession, but I’d be lying if I said I had never struggled with it myself. I think more so than the desire to actually BE perfect, I’ve struggled with the aspiration to appear perfect. Don’t we all from time to time? Sometimes it’s all too easy to get caught up in the desire to be perceived as someone who has the perfect life, the perfect job, or the perfect marriage.
But the truth is, we’re not perfect. Far from it, actually. Our bodies are imperfect, our jobs are disappointing, the friendships we thought would last forever dissolve, and sometimes our marriages don’t quite live up to the fairytales of our childhood dreams.
That’s life—full of imperfections.
And that’s ok.
Embrace it. Your bodily imperfections make you beautiful, just the way God intended you to be. The imperfections of your job will make you a stronger person. Your friendship imperfections will in turn, teach you how to be a better friend. And the imperfections of your marriage? Take those and turn them into lessons on how to love each other more completely.
There is beauty in imperfection—we just have to find it.
Some of the things that you talk about sort of remind me of the Japanese concept of Wabi-sabi. In short, it is tied to the idea that there is beauty in imperfection.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wabi-sabi
I JUST was reading the article on the whole Heidi thing and it truly made me digusted. If she was trying to *appear* perfect, well then I think she looked perfectly fine before the ten surgeries.
I think the whole idea of perfection needs to be redefined, by each of us, one at a time. Who is anyone to tell me that my life isn’t perfect? Sure I’m not rolling in the dough, I don’t have a rockin’ body, and I don’t know where I’ll be in 5 years, but I think my life is pretty damn sweet, perfect even. I don’t see those things as flaws or shortcomings, and I try my best not to look at others’ peoples lives according to my standards.
Sure there are some things that can be defined as perfect…a diamond without observable flaws, a car without a dent, but for most things in life, perfection is relative.
i cannot put into words how much i love this post. you have inspired me to write something similar. you are such a good writer, ashlee. i am shocked you aren’t working in journalism. you are truly talented.
It’s sad because she doesn’t even look like herself anymore and you can’t really go back once you’ve done all that to yourself. I wonder if Spencer even tried to stop her. If I had a loved one who wanted that much plastic surgery I would definitely try to help them deal with the root issues before just letting them go under the knife.
p.s. I’m tagging you
http://izillatheterrible.blogspot.com/2010/01/tag-youre-it.html