Perfect! Really? Are You Sure?

I'm going to steal a quote from a student of mine because I thought it was worth talking about. 

"My life is perfect, but not because there isn't anything wrong with it... but because I say, and believe it is."

At first glance, this may not seem like such a big deal to many, but coming from a college freshman girl -- where drama, hormones and worries about EVERYTHING could potentially be her whole life -- I thought this was huge, coming from her. 

"Perfect" is relative, isn't it? Our instinct is to want that perfect life... that husband or wife, boyfriend or girlfriend, health, money, big home, angelic kids, gorgeous car, etc. But what does perfect really mean? I believe it means whatever we say it means, and creates a specific type of life that we say it creates. 

                              

I have a good friend who's very wealthy, is in incredible shape and has a beautiful family, but thinks his life sucks! I also know someone who can't walk, is overweight and is without much family, but thinks her life is "perfect!!" Wow... what a mindset difference. What happened with her that didn't with him?? Perfect doesn't have to mean what friends, family, or society in general says it means. It doesn't have to look like the picture we've all visualized, where all the colors are "inside the lines", and all match perfectly (oops, there's that word again -- I'm beginning to hate that word).

                                                                       

Maybe we should make it a lifelong plan to look for our own perfect, no matter what shape it takes, or who it upsets. Maybe, just maybe we know what that means, feels and tastes like for us better than anyone ever will. 

                                                                              

Perfect? What does that mean?