Practice makes...Progress.

I have been a self proclaimed perfectionist for as long as I can remember...now, I am not sure that this is actually part of my innate personality, but as a child I was definitely taught that unless "its done" perfectly or you "behave" perfectly, then it's just not good enough.

It has taken much practice to let go of the desire and/or need to be perfect, but I can honestly say I feel much less (self imposed) pressure today to try to achieve this unrealistic goal. I have come to believe that perfect is actually boring and really has no character of its own. It's an ideal (usually collective) that has nothing to do with who we are and the reality of the world around us...

I enjoy people who are comfortable with who they are regardless of whether or not I believe they would fit into the "socially acceptable" catagory -or any other catagory for that matter.

It is when other people allow themselves to be themselves and I am open to hearing and understanding new concepts -without feeling the pressure to adopt them as my own- that I can truly learn and understand something new that I may not have considered before.

When I am open to new ideas and understand my own ideas are not the end all be all, that is when true sharing can occur and new ideas, experiences and perspectives can be welcomed into my life, or not...

Having lived without this openness, I know first hand how difficult life can feel and overwhelming things can seem. Being myself and accepting others for who they are -warts and all- eases off the pressure and allows life to be fun and much more interesting.