Perfection: the condition, state, or quality of being free or as free as possible from all flaws or defects.

Wow. Doesn't that sound nice.

It's funny to me how we all try to reach the standard of "perfection." We know it's quite unattainable but we just seem to keep on keeping on. We think the harder we try, the closer we will get. I think the more we try... The more we notice how miserably we're failing.

We attempt to act put together on the outside, yet we are dying to find a community that is acknowledging the fact that their life is chaotic, their house is a wreck, the cracks of their cars are filled with French fries from three months ago, and they haven't washed their hair in four days! Everyone around us seems to have it together and no matter how hard we try. We just can't seem to figure it out. Honestly, I believe none of us have it figured out. Sure, some of us may be better at picking up the house five minutes before company comes over, while others have figured out the art of dry shampoo (by the way, it's definitely a game changer).

My life is messy. My laugh is obnoxious. My quiet inside voice is non-existent. I have bleach blonde hair but I'm almost always in need of dying my black roots. I am horrible at texting people back. I eat chocolate two days after I "give it up for a month." I am so incredibly unobservant that I annoy myself. I avoid confrontation at all costs and I am deathly afraid of people being upset with me. My direction skills are zero. I say sorry way too much. Give me options and there is no way I can make a decision. I eat so fast sometimes I can't breathe. My eyesight is horrible yet I never wear my contacts (makes sense). Anyone who has every ridden in my car will tell you that driving is not my strong suit. Ask me where to eat or what movie I want to watch, and if you expect an opinion, I may have a nervous breakdown. These are a few of my many imperfections, my downfalls, my quirks.

As I have gotten older, I have found beauty in each one of these "flaws." My ability to get lost has allowed me to accidentally discover the beauty and has placed me on many random adventures. My loud and obnoxious laugh can at times become contagious. I have found that chocolate heals all wounds and helps in any circumstance. God has taught me that there is beauty to be found in confrontation and the resolutions can strengthen our relationships. My ability to be fine with any choice makes any decision a win-win. My imperfections allow my perfect God to seep through me. My imperfections make me human.

Imperfection is okay. Imperfection is what makes us unique.

The next time you come face to face with your flaw, change your perspective, find the beauty in them, and own them confidently. They are yours to have and yours to embrace. Our imperfections make us relatable, approachable, HUMAN. We must begin to see our imperfections for what they are... A door to opportunity to be authentic, genuine, and the person we are created to be. The more we push our quirks under the rug, the harder it is to be true to who we are.

We all continue to uphold this standard we have set for ourselves. We want people to acknowledge their messy lives and think that ours is as put together as we attempt to present it. We wake up every morning with just enough time to put on our facade and walk out the door. What if instead of covering up our imperfections, we embraced them with open arms?