Quote of the Day: Once you accept the fact that you’re not perfect, then you develop some confidence. ~Rosalynn Carter
Another good one for us writers: No one is perfect…that’s why pencils have erasers. – Anonymous (or is that all of us).
And, one from my drama: Perfect is a word used to describe something that doesn’t exist. – heard it from a friend of a friend.
Here are a pair of imperfect hands.
I played for our church service again today. I started out with some fun prelude music. One piece was a jazzed up version of our gathering hymn. Then, the service started. I don’t know what happened, maybe I was distracted by the readers who were right next to me and the really tall candle, or maybe it was the water they poured into the Baptismal bowl, or maybe I had the prelude song in my head and didn’t know where to start, or I hadn’t drunk enough coffee that morning. When it came time to start the first hymn, I was in the wrong spot. I mean, way off. I felt like asking, “Does anyone know where they put middle C on this piano?” or, “Can you tell me what key we’re in? Oh, those tiny tic-tac-toe grids mean we have a couple sharps.” Whatever the reason, I had to stop the intro and restart, twice.
We all have false starts now and then. After the service, while I had fellowship snacks and conversation with other moms, they reminded me that they know all about false starts. In fact, one is a track coach. Ever heard of a foot fault, jumping the gun, dropping a baton? How about some more: fumbling the ball, missing a cue, forgetting a name, burning the bacon. Ever typed a word wrong, on a job app? Agent query? Have you ever looked at your writing and thought, Nope, this is not going in the right direction. I need to turn around and start over. Which brings up another great comparison. Have you ever turned down the wrong road? How about your relationships, ever felt a need to start over?
The best way to keep your poise in such situations is to let go of perfect, smile, appologize, and start again. This is the advice I gave my students when we had our piano recital. I said, “If you’re off, either play through it, or find a place to restart. Don’t fall apart. We all make mistakes. Keep on playing.”
Thanks, Rejoice friends for accepting my imperfections today.
Play on (or off) the Page!
Journaling Prompt: Describe a time when you needed to start over.
Subscribe To Mary's Newsletter
Join Mary's mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from Play Off the Page.
Mary, one time in track, junior high, I kept false starting. I ended up NOT completing one race. I was disqualified from every race that day. I finally learned, I could not anticipate the gun, I had to wait a millisecond after I heard it to go. It never happened again after that. I’m glad I kept going. I ended up doing pretty well in track after that. I’ve messed up plenty of times while being cantor at church, but have learned the art of continuing on. And I’ve also learned, like you, that there’s no such thing as perfection. What a wise truth. It’s something I’m now trying to reach my children. Thanks for being so honest so that we could reveal our imperfections as well. 🙂
Spot on, Mary! Great post 🙂
Great story, Roxane, about track. And, all musicians have felt this way. I’ve incorrectly put more pressure on myself, as if musicians have to be the closest to perfect of anyone.
Thanks, Mom Squad. Mom’s have many false starts, too! I tell my oldest that he’s paving the way for me and the younger brothers.
Yes, we all have those days… 🙂
And yes, right now I’m only three chapters into my story and I’m exactly at a point where I’m thinking “do I go back and start again? or just go forward and edit later?”
Jennifer, Good luck making that decision!
Imperfections are what make life immensely interesting, and make people beautiful. What a boring world if everything, and everyone were perfect. Bring on unique and interesting, any day 🙂
Joanne, Wonderful sentiments. Thanks for sharing them.
Mary, do make sure you visit PGM today… 🙂
Hi Mary-I love your stories. Everyday that I have to drag myself from bed to my ‘day’ job, I wish I could start over (off day)& sit at my computer doing what I ACTUALLY love to do…But, this soon passes as I don my nurses’ cap & focus on my patient’s wellbeing.
Thanks for visiting wisewoman2 btw.
Clara.
Blessings to you, Clara, and your healing hands. Perhaps you are collecting stories along with the vitals?
Great post! Oh, I LOVE pianists!!
Hmmm. I have had to start over on so many things, including my current WIP!!!
That’s the freshest “wound.” Not quite scabbed over!!!
LOL.
Patti
Patti, It is SO HARD to start over after you’ve gotten a ways into it. Hoping the new path is better!
I envy your musical skills, imperfections and all.
I live for do overs . Humbly broken and breaking up and messing up always.
And yet.. there is that expectation thing. It does keep me from putting myself out there in a sense. A few years ago I totally got out of my comfort zone and was doing a cooking demonstration , most of it unrehearsed and because it was in a retail location where crowds can never really be anticipated or predicted, I had to “wing” it . I made mistakes right there in front of people who were expecting me to be a chef, which I am not, and it was one of the most exhilarating and liberating things I’ve ever done.( the garden centre where I was working was trying to show how herbs are versatile, healthy, etc )
Thanks for your comments, especially in regards to my music. It is so much a part of my life. And, yes, when we know we’re not expected to be perfect, by ourselves or others, we are free to try, to fail, to retry, to learn, and to find success. Bravo to you for doing the cooking demo!