To Be Perfectly Imperfect The world is as a stage, and we are as actors playing our roles in it. And how can we learn to become a better actor. Shall we need to be perfect, whatever that means? Actually, trying to be perfect is exhausting. It’s a full-time job with no time off. However, when we say “I am perfectly imperfect,” we meant it in the best possible way or in the most optimal way possible. We, probably, cannot be perfect all the time, but we are finally learning to embrace ourselves as we are, not as we think we have to be. Perfectly imperfect might feel like, “This is who I am. I am not hiding.” It is rooted in self-acceptance. Imperfectly perfect feels more like noticing the beauty inside the flaws. In other words, letting go of perfection would let us be much kinder to ourselves. Whether we call it perfectly imperfect or imperfectly perfect, what we have learned is that perfection keeps us living small, and we are afraid to make mistakes. On the contrary, accepting the imperfections give us the freedom to be ourselves, without worrying whether we could fail or succeed. In fact, in our lives, we have many flaws… like the way we talk, stand, and walk. We put too much trust into people. We are not confident in many ways. We might have been stuck in, for so many years, in order to appreciate who we are, and improve ourselves without the drive to be worthy in the eyes of others. The truth is, nothing is perfect, and to create the illusion that such an ideal could exist is a misconception because “perfection,” in its simplest form, is impossible to achieve. There will always be someone or something “better,” whether that’s in school, sports, family, or jobs. We, indeed, focus so much on comparing ourselves to the people around us because competition is what our society is built on. Whenever we plan to do something, we give it our best, and hope something great to come out of it. Initially, we do feel that the piece we have created is something beautiful and unique. But soon, we start to see the imperfections in it. We undervalue it and scrutinize our work. We end up getting trapped in a never ending loop of trivial improvements. Yes, it’s no doubt that we do have many flaws. Even though we strive to become someone who is perfect, and we all think that we should give more time to make the things perfect, probably, due to our flaws, there is no such perfect things at all in the world. The true magic always lies in seeing the perfection in the imperfection. Therefore, until the very end of our lives, we should admit that we have done our best, and have perfectly kept on moving to the imperfect world. I want to take CCVS’s (Kaohsiung Municipal Chung-Cheng Industrial High School) YLP (Youth Leadership Program) as an example to illustrate the perfections in imperfections. First of all, the students of CCVS are not majoring in English. They only have regular English classes in school. They don’t even have extra time to train their English speaking skills. In other words, they are, truly, imperfect in their English abilities to match the goal of YLP. Secondly, by a sponsoring Toastmasters club (Golden Noon Toastmasters Club), YLP is a workshop consisting of eight one-and-a half-hour meetings that enable CCVS students, between the ages of 14 and 18, to develop their communication and leadership skills through practical experiences. In the meetings, these students will learn how to evaluate their own speaking abilities, prepare and deliver speeches, and control their voice, vocabulary, and gestures. Meetings are like Toastmasters club meetings that YLP, especially, helps students build effective communication skills, while understanding their own communication styles. However, in real situations, eight meetings cannot guarantee the students to acquire the techniques of English speaking. That is the imperfect environment. Finally, in such imperfect classroom managements, students still try their best to practice English, and deliver their speeches no matter how terrible they might present. This is the true courage that I do admire them. As an English teacher as well as an experienced Toastmasters member, I can see their fears. But, on the other hand, I notice that these students make progress week after week because of their constant practices. I do appreciate their efforts and respect their endeavors. This is the confidence for them to show their will for learning whatsoever. Since childhood, we have been taught by the society that we should always try our best. We want to come first in class because that will make us become good students. We want to earn much money so that we can perfectly spend it wherever we want. That’s true. We do our best all the time. Then, what happens when we encounter experiences overloaded with sad emotions than goodness and happiness? In many circumstances, we actually know our deepest fears and also our deepest strengths. The outside world is permanently imperfect. We really can’t control it. That means, it is impossible for us to pursue the goals of perfection, and reach for the wonderful conditions outward. The only thing we can do is that we can be perfect as much as possible in the face of imperfect things around us. When we look back at our lives, we could evidently see many flaws, and few incidents are perfect. These imperfect things, definitely, expose our weaknesses and insecurities. But, in our hearts, we, keenly, perceive that we, surely, make efforts and work hard. That’s enough for us to be perfect in front of imperfect circumstances around the world. Powered by Firstory Hosting
