Dec 11 2008
Seeking Perfection
I’ve spent a lot of time in my life not doing some things I’ve wanted to do because I did not feel I could do them “perfectly.” I have not pursued career opportunities because I did not think I was qualified enough. I did not expose my hobbies to the world because my output was not “perfect.”
I have spent a lot of time waiting to be good enough at something to be able to show my talents to the world. For example, I would love to sing (somewhere more than just in the shower). I don’t. I haven’t. And I won’t. The reason? I’m afraid the world will see my mediocre voice for what it is (and what it isn’t) and will somehow disapprove.
I have passed up career options because I didn’t feel I was as good as someone who was already following that career path. I have put off writing the stories of my heart because I didn’t think my skills would measure up.
Somewhere along the way, I’ve started to realize that a whole lot of average joe’s are out there doing whatever it is they want to do and bringing good, bad and indifferent abilities to the party. A great number of people are not concerned with being perfect, only with doing what they want to do.
I’m happy with this new knowledge. I attribute it to one of the advantages of being Fit Over 50. Finally, at long last, I am coming into my own in terms of what I do and how I feel about what I do.
In the last few years I have joined the church choir. I don’t sing solo. I still don’t think the world is ready to that. But I do contribute something to the cause and my imperfect voice has found a home.
In the last year I was begun pursuing freelance writing opportunities and have been pleasantly surprised to see that my skills are at least good enough to have resulted in a handful of sales so far. It has given me the confidence to seek out more challenging markets for my work.
Am I alone in only realizing at 50+ that I can do what I want to do without being “perfect” first? I don’t think so. If you have any areas of life where you are experiencing an awakening in terms of what you are pursuing, or would like to pursue if you weren’t afraid, drop us an e-mail. Share with us the imperfect you reaching out to do your thing in an imperfect world.
