The truth is: life is imperfect.
The truth is: every day is not an inspired work of art.
I shared a shadow with you this week and you embraced it – and me – for the raw truth of that story. For it's honest imperfection.
Because of course I struggle – just like you. Of course my life is not all moonbeams and elderberries. It's messy. Like yours.
And while I feel this is a place to celebrate all this is wonderful and all that is working, sometimes it's it serves us all if I show you the messes too.
This morning I wanted a photograph of my new tea cup (my crazy favorite cup of all time for obvious reasons), a gift from Pete this solstice. But the background of my real life kept getting in the way. Dirty dishes, dirty windows, dirty floors.
And then I realized – maybe that's the point. The balance of beauty and imperfection. Hell, maybe they are the same thing.
Because finding so much to marvel at in an imperfect world is more inspiring to me than anybody's perfection.
So today's imperfection means that we're playing hooky. We're leaving the dishes in the sink and heading miles down the road to who-knows-where. We'll ditch this farm and take a "Mystery Friday" trip somewhere.
More honesty: that destination will surely involve a thrift store. Or two.
Because yes – it's okay to lower my standards now and again and just be me.
Perfectly imperfect me.
Love,
Rachel
P.S. See that white binder on the cabinet above? That's my book. I dug it out of the basement this morning. Oh, yes. It's time to get to it.
I learned a phrase awhile ago. Wabi Sabi. I was told it is Japanese and that it means “finding the beauty in imperfection”. I hope that I was told thentruth aboutnthese words, because I love the words and that definition.
And your post today!
*And yes, that is a dead Asian beetle in my windowsill.*
Absolutely beauty in imperfection! I have a friend who likens life to a mountain range- there are hills and valleys- and there is beauty to be found in both the hills and down in the valleys!
You can come check out my windowsill. We are Asian beetle twins!
I love your honesty. Quite frankly, these posts probably inspire more people than the “look what we made, look what we did” kind of posts. We are all fragile and imperfect and to see someone like you who seems to have it all together, well, actually not have it all together, shows that you too are real and human and perfectly imperfect! Thanks Rachel.
Love this!
Life is messy … would we want it any other way?
FYI.. love your blog.. been lurker for awhile.. lol
Blessings from TN
Denise
We love the perfectly imperfect and beautiful you.
All the little imperfections in our lives are what make us real and feel alive. My imperfect counter full of dirty dishes finally got washed today. A week of living in the present and not doing what I didn’t want to do was well worth it. My afghan was calling to me, and I wanted to make some progress on it, so that is the balance I found. It’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who neglects ‘chores’ in favor of ‘play’.
“And then I realized – maybe that’s the point. The balance of beauty and imperfection. Hell, maybe they are the same thing.”
I love this, your renegade zen wisdom. It is a pleasure to see the bits of detritus that litter your floor and windowsill. I do my best to keep a clean and tidy house but fun at our house is never clean and tidy. I’ll admit, I wondered if I was in the right place when I saw misc piles on the hoosier. Not a stereotypical showcase photo. Your honesty lets me smile about the dust bunnies under my bed instead of seeing them as one more thing on my huge list of to do’s. Hope you had a marvelous Friday.
Life is like a rollercoaster, if you didn’t have the ups and downs, it would be a pretty boring ride. And a boring read too. 🙂 The light and the dark, that’s what makes things interesting.
Sending you a virtual hug.
When I realized those pretty photos of your life were supposed to show your mess and clutter I had to scroll back up to look at them again… because they really didn’t look dirty to me at first glance (or 2nd!)… they just look like, well, LIFE. My Lady Friends and I were just talking about how sometimes the unrealistic expectations we put on ourselves truly detracts form our joy and gratitude instead of motivating us to be our best. The herbalist in our tribe recommended Blue Vervain as a remedy! I hope you enjoyed your thrift store adventures today.
OH MY GOD i love this blog. Added it as a fav straight away. How refreshing friend. Thanks for the joy tonight. xx
I so enjoy reading all your posts on your lovely blog but the past three (starting with Anxiety) have really stuck with me… I can so relate to what you discuss in these three pieces and I appreciate your honesty so much. I agree that talking with people about their real, normal, relatable lives as well as reading about them, or watching a moving piece about the truly meaningful things in life has so much more value than hearing about all the ways in which a person is “perfect” and should therefore be idolized (although in reality we know that no one is perfect and it’s the perfection part that’s presented while the real, more gritty stuff of life is left hidden). Thank you once again for your refreshing take on what’s it really like to be a mom of young kids this day and age in our society. Your posts remind me of some of the conversations I’ve had with my friends. 🙂
Yes. It is a favorite phrase around here!
Thanks, Michelle.
Thanks Denise! Welcome to this space.
I love it.
Not a stereotypical one, but an honest one. I have been know to photoshop nut butter off of my children’s faces, you know. 😉
Welcome, Amber! How did you land here? I always wonder how folks find their way in… Peace, Rachel
I’m so glad. Thanks Charissa.