Perfection is so overrated!

Some of my most favorite quotes ever... come from Marilyn Monroe. It may seem a bit strange, but the woman was smart... smarter than anyone gives her credit for. I may just base all my next few post in dedication to her, maybe that will be my theme for February. She said...

"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius, and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring"

I don't think I would label myself as a 'perfectionist', but there are certain aspects of my life I do expect perfection. I've realized that in seeking such perfection, I tend to miss the lessons I should be learning from my mistakes and failures.
I get so down on myself, and mad at myself for not meeting my expectations, that I miss what it is I could have learned from my failure. Which is why I think I make the same mistake over and over.
The biggest area of my life where I think this is happening, has to do with my body! My body and my personality! I feel it's easier to control the things around me... but not so easy to make myself as perfect as I think I should be. I'm trying to come to terms with what it is I can... and can't change about myself. Just some of my imperfections...

My pinky fingers are 'freakishly' too small (makes it really hard to play the piano)
I never learned all my times tables, have to use my fingers
I also struggle with addition
I have adult acne
My ankles are super thick... I've yet to find an anklet to fit
I overeat... I feed my emotions
No matter how much weight I lose, I'm built... bigger bones, broad shoulders, and muscular legs
My ears are too small (and I'm not sure they grow)
I don't have toenails on my pinky toes... I paint the little lump on it, and the skin where my nail should be
I have stretch marks from the back of my knees up to my neck
I've never been able to float
I have thin hair, and paper thin fingernails
I can't say the word 'specific' or 'aluminum' without really concentrating
I have a hard time asking for help, a really hard time

I could go on and on! So I think I've spent way too long not liking things about myself. When the truth is... I must accept the flaws that I can't change, and change the flaws I can't accept.
There are flaws about myself that I can work on... things I can change. But there things that bother me, and I have no control over them!
I feel like at 31 years-old, maybe it's time to come to terms with the fact that many of these things will never change... no matter how badly I want them to. Instead... I should be focusing my energy on the things that will make me a happier person. Turning some of the flaws into just unique things that make me who I am.
I am built with bigger bones, broad shoulders and a muscular frame. This has always bothered me... always. I know my feelings won't change overnight, but I think that working out... specifically lifting weights... makes me feel good about myself. I am strong! I can build muscle like nobody's business. If I embrace that fact, focusing on how good it makes me feel to be strong... than I think that I will love my body more. Rather than suffering on the treadmill... because that's what all the skinny girls do, so I think it will make me look like them! Granted, I may turn into this...No! I wouldn't!
But I think I would have a much better body image, and I would feel better!
So this week, I'm not beating myself up for all the things I shouldn't have eaten... I'm going to celebrate the good choices I make! I may have had a few pieces of candy yesterday, but I got in my fruit and veggie servings!... and that's a hard one for me.
KT Tunstall's song 'Under the Weather' has one of my favorite lines...

"You say you feel like a natural person
you haven't got nothing to hide.
So why do you feel imperfection
cut like a sword in your side?"

I think there is a lot of beauty and wisdom in this world that is overlooked because it is not considered perfect. What makes us all interesting... and unique... is that we are not perfect. I don't need to try and keep my house as clean as my friend's, or look as good as my neighbor, or be as good of a Mom as a woman on TV. I have somehow determined that as perfection. Instead... I will be who I am... imperfections included. I will try to realize that some of those imperfections are who I am, how God made me, and let them go.
I will try to learn from my mistakes, not being upset that I'm not perfect, but maybe reevaluating what I am expecting. Being more realistic, and working on the things that I can change.