Quote of the day:
“When you become vulnerable, any ideal or perfect image of yourself falls away. (…)
Many people are addicted to perfection, and in their pursuit of the ideal, they have no patience with vulnerability. (…)
Every poet would like to write the ideal poem. Though they never achieve this, sometimes it glimmers through their best work. Ironically, the very beyondness of the idea is often the touch of presence that renders the work luminous. The beauty of the ideal awakens a passion and urgency that brings out the best in the person and calls forth the dream of excellence.
The beauty of the true ideal is its hospitality towards woundedness, weakness, failure and fall-back. Yet so many people are infected with the virus of perfection. They cannot rest; they allow themselves no ease until they come close to the cleansed domain of perfection. This false notion of perfection does damage and puts their lives under great strain. It is a wonderful day in a life when one is finally able to stand before the long, deep mirror of one’s own reflection and view oneself with appreciation, acceptance, and forgiveness. On that day one breaks through the falsity of images and expectations which have blinded one’s spirit. One can only learn to see who one is when one learns to view oneself with the most intimate and forgiving compassion.”
― John O’Donohue, Beauty: The Invisible Embrace
Beautiful Old Statue – not perfect, but perfectly beautiful
The teachers, speakers, and friends that I admire the most are those who risk letting the world see their imperfection with courage and grace. So much of our culture centers around looking good at all costs. But no one is perfect and trying to live the illusion of perfection creates a life cut off from what is real and true.
Portrait photography can bring people face to face with their own imperfections. I imagine that there are different schools of thought about beauty and photography. I happen to prefer natural shots of real people and not glamour shots that present the illusion of perfection.
But I still cringe when I see certain photos of me. My weight bothers me. One of my eyelids droops when I’m tired and I don’t like that. I have big peasant hands and have always wished for slender, aristocratic hands. And the list could go on and on. But all of that is just window dressing. It’s some of my feelings, moods, thoughts, or behaviors that are even more difficult to accept. Over the years I’ve learned that when I take a chance and show what is inside and what is real and not try to be someone I’m not, then I make real connections with real people who nourish the soul.
Perfect? No way! Perfectly real? Sometimes. I’ve learned far more from my imperfections and difficult events in my life than I have from the easy, smooth-sailing times. I’ve learned that the things that feel like my biggest challenges and imperfections are also my greatest gifts.
What imperfection in your life is actually a gift in disguise?
Another Lovely Old Statue
Still Life with Pottery and Plants
Old Cross with Plants
Carved Stone
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