Perfection is Not a Reality
It’s Saturday morning. I woke up at 8am to get ready for the day. 9am drop off for Naomi’s art class. Then I’m going to go write at the coffee shop. I have so much to say and I need to make time to share it. It’s the perfect plan. I’m going to enjoy a warm cup of coffee on this cold, but sunny day, while spending two full hours all to myself. Relaxing. Writing. Sharing.
We leave the house at 8:53am. How many times can I repeat the words “we have to get going” before I get frustrated? We make it for drop off right at 9am. I get Naomi set up and tell her I’ll be back in a couple hours. I drive to the coffee shop, almost turning on to a closed road. I park, order my coffee, and look for a table. I’m ready.
Not one table is open near an outlet. My computer is at 60%, so maybe I’ll be okay. I’m standing near a table facing a window taking a minute to enjoy the shining sun. As I get situated, a man delicately carrying his coffee walks behind me. I had no idea he was there. I bump him with my elbow and his coffee spills over his cup. I apologize, but he doesn’t acknowledge my words. I’m embarrassed by a tiny mistake. It’s okay. I’m ready to get started.
I reach in my bag to look for my headphones and realize I forgot them at home. It’s fine. I’ll tune out the noise and get started. I turn on my computer and it isn’t responding. I force it to shut down and restart. I open a blank document, and it won’t let me sign in to Microsoft. It’s fine. I troubleshoot and finally get started.
My perfectly planned morning did not go as planned. Not in one way. But here I am. Writing and realizing that this experience happens every single day. The day planned out. The narrative written. I am in control.
But, perfection is not a reality.
It’s time to let go of expectations. It’s time to let go of perfectionism. It’s time to realize we can’t control everything that is happening around us.
I’m rewriting the narrative for this day. I’m enjoying the chatter of people around me, music playing at the coffee shop, and words flowing out of me.
Nothing is perfect, but this moment feels unexpectedly peaceful.