Embracing Imperfection
Google defines perfection as the absence of faults or defects. Not until we moved to Spain did I realize how much we were living in a society obsessed by perfection. We would find ourselves caught up in the "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality, where comparing ourselves to others, maintaining a flawless yard and caring about our image became the norm. The obsession with perfection extends to even the groceries we buy, as we tend to discard produce that's slightly bruised or past its expiration date.
In a thought provoking article from https://www.rts.com/resources/guides/food-waste-america/, we learn that the United States leads the world in food wastage, discarding nearly 60 million tons, or 120 billion pounds, of food annually. This amounts to almost 40 percent of the entire US food supply and averages out to a staggering 325 pounds of waste per person. A significant factor in this wasteful behavior is our misunderstanding of expiration labels, leading to the disposal of perfectly good, consumable food.
The need for perfection goes beyond food; it extends to our self-image as well. We strive for flawless age defying skin, perfect hair and the latest trends in fashion.
Back in Denver I rarely left the house without makeup, and once I left without a fresh face and encountered someone I knew at the grocery store and they asked me “ Are you ok, you look sick!”
Moving to a small country town in Northern Spain has been an enlightening awakening and has helped me realize that perfection, really is in the eye of the beholder.
There’s a sense of freedom in learning to embrace imperfection, maybe that’s what perfection really means. It's possible that true perfection lies in this acceptance, where we find beauty and completeness in our flaws and quirks.
In our town of O Rosal, you'll encounter unfinished homes, piles of stones, garden debris, weathered ruins, buildings and walls adorned with the beauty of moss and algae. The produce aisles at the Supermercado display produce with bruises and irregular sizes. The people wear a diverse array of styles, and the liberating truth is that nobody seems to concern themselves with how others dress or whether you’re wearing makeup! Although I do get an occasional judgy look when I opt for flip flops outside of the beach. .
The truth of the matter is that perfection is an unrealistic expectation. In our garden, there will always be weeds, piles of garden debris, different types of fungus, lots of pests and our fruits and vegetables will have the appearance of being homegrown. Yet, the real beauty lies in this authenticity, in the genuine and imperfect nature of it all.
For most of my adult life, I was immersed in the beauty and fashion community, an industry focused on image. Moving here has brought a liberating feeling, one that encourages embracing our true selves and caring little about how we appear or what others may think.
I'm still on the journey of embracing imperfection and my authentic self, but I consider myself lucky to be in the perfect place to learn and grow. Here, authenticity is celebrated, and the pursuit for genuine self-acceptance is a journey worth taking.
