Spring - The Perfect Time to Celebrate Imperfection

I thoroughly enjoy leafing through creative magazines like Real Simple, Southern Living, and Pottery Barn!  Yet, a weird thing happens as I look at all the perfectly appointed rooms.  Rooms in which every pillow and table top accessory is placed with perfection in a spotless outdoor room.  Where are the spider webs, the bird and leaf droppings?  Who took this picture and how long did it stay looking so perfect?  Flipping in a few more pages is the perfect Easter Brunch – napkins, plates, beverages, floral designs, and food all exquisite!  Let’s not even flip to the desert section with its fabulously frosted cake covered with perfect iced flowers – some that are even more lovely than real flowers. At this point I am so overwhelmed with the sheer perfection of it all – I am unable to recall that the test kitchens and chefs who created the cakes probably made 15 before the shutter clicked on the camera!

My depression is now in full force!  Try as I might, I cannot replicate this beauty and perfection. I realize I have only two choices!  First, I start analyzing my total inability to create perfection and therefore won’t embarrass myself by inviting friends over or serving my lopsided cake on my mismatched dishes!  Or I can embrace my ability to create imperfection and seeing it as an opportunity to invite friends over to enjoy a haphazard, less than perfect event that is destined to create meaningful connections. In reflection, I realize we often skip over beautiful moments because we are embarrassed or ashamed – because we cannot execute a perfect event; so we don’t try; we don’t reach out; we stay disconnected.

Spring – in all her beautiful abundance is so very imperfect.  Flowers that bring me joy may be missing a petal, blooming trees are crooked – but we don’t see that do we?  We just love the blaze of color! The vibrant poppies, the fragrant lilac bushes, marvelous peony and tulips, and majestic fruit trees drenched in blossom.  We revel in all this wonderful imperfection. We find joy and renewed energy.

Thinking of how much we enjoy the rebirth of spring reminds us that we too can have a rebirth of focus and direction. Just like any seed, we have everything inside of us to become great! We have been created for a reason; we are unique! Only You are You – there will never be another You!

Like any seed, if you are a flower, you will not become a tree!  If you are a pine tree, you will not become an oak.  Spring and the thoughts of seeds and plants gives us permission

·       to embrace our self – lumps, bumps and all

·       to find joy in the life and experiences that have added to our uniqueness

·       to accept our imperfections – realizing it is what gives us character

·       to stop beating up on our self – dump “woulda – coulda – shoulda: thinking

·       start growing and blooming and reaching new beauty and connections

Spring also informs us of opportunities to renew ourselves and focus on a new direction. It is within our power to create a new direction in our life.  To shed the dullness of winter, the disappointments of the past, the critical words of others that we have allowed to shape our future. Spring says “Girl, it is time to blossom – to show the world your beauty!”  Beauty, after all, isn’t airbrushed perfection; rather, it is authentic, genuine imperfection!