We live in a society that encourages the unattainable goal of perfection. Even as we age, there’s a whisper in our head that says we aren’t young enough, thin enough, successful enough and attractive enough. This is especially impossible as you enter and stumble your away through midlife. Never before has there been such a crucial need for self-love and self-care. Your time is now. Imperfection is human and young or old, it has never been attainable.
Imperfection All Around Us
It’s Ok if your socks don’t match! For years I matched my family’s socks and put the mismatch, the mysterious single sock into a laundry bag. These lonely socks would forever wait to be matched. They never were. So now, I simply identify the owner of the lonely sock and put them into their drawer. Laundry completed! So now many of my socks don’t match and I put them on anyway. I’m THAT person now. I tried perfection and it didn’t work for me as a mom and it doesn’t work for me now.
Priorities
I’m that person who exercises not to lose weight but to improve their bloodwork numbers. Who meditates and practices yoga to calm down my ridiculous anxiety and to stretch out my tired joints. I’m that person who laughs maniacally at herself as she tries to do some weightlifting that requires lunges, inevitably falling on the floor and wishing I had a cookie. After being unsuccessful at my cooking finding, it doesn’t surprise me to look down and see two different colored socks.
My style (besides sweatpants) has migrated into “I really don’t care and if I like it, I’m wearing it.” I’m returning to my NY roots, the ones that taught me that it’s OK to go to the store in pajamas and pretend that our clothes were the epitome of high fashion. Who really cares. I’m more interesting this way and sick of feeling like a hamster in a wheel. Sure, I like looking good just as much as the next person but when you strive to reach perfection you just wind up with one empty wallet and plastic surgery that makes you look weird.
Practicing Self Acceptance
Acceptance is a process but once you accept that you’re over 40, over 50, over 60, over 70, you can embrace what’s important in life and it’s not that new shade of lipstick. It’s the book you read, the walk you took, the grandchildren you hugged, and the laughter you shared with your friends. What’s important is the people you help, the love you give, and the gratitude in your heart.
It’s not your socks.
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