Friday, April 21, 2006

I'mperffect

Perfect, Schmerfect. So there I was at my 40th + 2 year high school reunion. We never had a 40th because we saw most of the people we liked and really didn't want to have to make conversation with the rest of the class of 64, but we agreed to join the class of 65 and 66 for a get together. So the pre party was pretty interesting. (The real reunion is tomorrow but people felt since they had come long distances they needed more than one night). Here's what I discovered. Regardless of age, race, size or education, it is impossible to have a conversation with any woman without discussing how to be ‘better’ or how to be ‘perfect’. Women with whom I went to school, over 40 years ago, are still struggling to look like Gweneth Paltrow or Hali Berry, aspiring to make a bed like Martha Stewart, have a career like Oprah Winfrey, and magically aquire the insights of a Dr. Phil. It seems that everything we do needs to be immediate, accelerated, and perfect. Our history, circumstances, genetics, the TV shows we watch, the magazines we read and the people who have become our role models, have led to a new women’s movement based on an endless search for perfection in everything we are and do. Ironically, we want a shortcut to the road of perfection despite the fact that, almost without exception, we agree that perfection doesn’t exist. So what do we do? I don't have the answer but I know know one can ever be perfect. Our children will always disappoint us-- without ever meaning to. So we should forgive them and support them. Our parents will get old and, although we may not have to change their diapers, we will have to acknowledge their inability to be forever young and vital. So we should love them and be thankful for what they gave us. Here's the bottom line. We might just have to get over the ongoing search for perfection and find somehting that makes us a little happier every day -- we're just sayin.
Iris

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