perfection.

We all try to be perfect - you cannot, in any way, say that we do not. Perfect grades, friends, family, boyfriend/girlfriend, car, job, hair, skin, body - the perfect self. Why do we try so hard to be a perfect human being? A perfect human being does not even exist. I am not saying that I am any different. I try my hardest to get the best grades, portray my family in the most attractive way that I can, make sure every curl and wave of my hair falls the way I want it to, and most of all, find the right clothes to make me look like so many people want to look: thin, young, and beautiful. I give in to commercialism, the latest trends, buy this, you need this, you must have that - it is disgusting, and I am a victim to it's crime. But really, aren't we all?

Sure, we all have different extents of how far we will 'give in' but it is a part of life! We have to do it! I am not saying that it is all bad, but there are some things that we could give up and still live a happy fulfilled life. We don't need ALL designer and name brand clothes - hell, clothes are everywhere we look, from Wal-Mart to Tyson's Corner, in the end, they are all the same and have one purpose: to clothe our bodies. That's what they were invented for isn't it? But who am I kidding? I shop at Ann Taylor, J. Crew, Banana Republic - I give in. Everyday. It is my weakness, and I can admit that. So what is the point? WHAT'S THE POINT? The point is simple: we shop for designer labels, we make sure our hair is perfect in every way, and that our makeup is flawless. Why? To be accepted. We want others to accept us. And I think that is perfectly fine. I have no room to say "No we shouldn't cash out the big bucks for others to like us, it doesn't matter what they think!" Wake up. It does. This is what life is all about. Finding others who accept you and living with and around them. It is our life - and contrary to what others might say, I do not think it is a completely 'bad and wrong' idea.

We make ourselves look the best that we can to be accepted. I had this revelation as I was at the gym today. Why do I go to the gym: to be healthy, to exercise, to lose weight, to gain muscle, so in the end I can look better, feel better, and be seen as "attractive" to others. Isn't that what we all do? When you pull it apart like that, I think, for most of us, at our core, it is. I love the gym I go to at home - it's great, but today I looked at it from a different perspective, from an outsider's perspective. Women in tight spandex, tight (sometimes low cut) tops, men in shorts and shirts with the sleeves cut off to show off their sculpted bodies. It all makes sense! Men grunting as they bench press with other guys, seeing who can lift the most - primitive living at it's finest. Don't get me wrong, grunting and cut off shirts works for me, especially when they are attractive grunting half-shirtless men - even better. See! It all comes back to that! Attraction. We want to appear attractive - and that is why we are at the gym.

I know that I am not having some ground-breaking discovery here, I am just taking the simple facts that we are faced with everyday and breaking them down piece-by-piece. We, meaning people as a whole, are trying to reach their idea of 'perfection' - no matter what that entails. And it is a part of life and NOTHING can change that. That is how the world works. As I said before, I am a victim to every single one of those parts I listed above. I know how I think about it, but I wonder how others portray perfection? Is it viewed as something to strive for? Like a sort of 'ultimate goal'? Maybe. I can only speak for myself. I mean, why do I have this blog? Well, one, as a way for me to say what I think because I love to write, but also, for you to read it! I want you to read what I think. Is that selfish - no? It is just me trying to reach that state of my 'perfect self' by having others read what I write. It is all this huge circle that makes the world go 'round. Like I said before, I do not find anything wrong with it, it is just the way life is.

I guess maybe I should have appraoched this from another way, but I don't want to go back now. What I wrote is how I feel - raw emotion that I don't want to take back because I feel like I would be cheating you of my response. I think what I really want to say is that there is no end all 'perfection.' I am coming to terms with accepting that because I am learning to, finally, accept who I truly am, and I think coming to terms with who YOU are helps you learn that there is no sort of perfection to be achieved in the world. You need to accept the person that you are, understand that you are beautiful and have so much to offer the world and all of the people who live in it, and continue to live your life doing what you love and being around the people that love you and make you happy. It is simple when, again, you boil it down to what it truly is - that self-perfection that we are all, in some way, seeking.

So say it with me: 'I am beautiful. I truly do love the person I am. I do make a difference in the world. I will work to become happy and proud of the life I live. I love myself.' Cheesy? Maybe. But think about it - if we thought about ourselves in a way like this, our world would be a much happier place because people would not be focused on trying to create perfection, they would be focused on creating what is truly important, and that is learning, living, and loving. So go out, buy your $200 pair of shoes - it is what makes our whole go 'round. But remember, people will love you for who you are HERE and NOW. Don't think that pair of shoes will make someone change the way they think about you - reality check, it won't. Find out how to love yourself, because in the end, that is what's really worth it.