Confession Time
You think I’m perfect don’t you? Come on sure you do.
It’s difficult sometimes to get your point across without sounding preachy or like a know-it-all. By sharing my thoughts publicly as I do here and at Zen Family Habits I run the risk of misleading people. What do I mean by this?
Well, what I write about is just one aspect of my life, just one, tiny, narrow part of who I am. And even the “best practices” I do write about I don’t always follow myself.
I’m sorry to disappoint you but I’m far from perfect. 
I’ve written about organizing a pantry and how nice it is to have such a tidy space where you can actually find things, yet up until a few days ago mine looked like a disaster zone.
I’ve written about decluttering and purging quite a bit and while you may think we live in a very minimalist, neat and tidy home that’s not always the case. As I write this flash cards litter the dining room table, there’s a half eaten sandwhich from lunch on the table and 2 coffee mugs in the kitchen.
See … not perfect.
Other things I’m guilty of:
- I don’t always wake up at 5:30 am
- I don’t always make my bed in the morning
- I don’t always hang my clothes up when I take them off
- I don’t always load the dishwasher right after dinner
- I don’t always put the kids toys away after they go to bed
- I still worry from time to time
- I don’t always opt for the meal with the greatest nutritional value (some evenings just call for pizza delivery)
- On the rare occassion I don’t get dressed until almost noon.
I am just a normal girl who likes to doll up occassionally, kick around the house in jeans and a sweatshirt mostly, and enjoys her kids always. I’m not an expert on happiness, on enjoying life or even living your best life. But I do have a passion for learning about these things and finding what works for me and my family. I have a lot of ideas, theories, speculations, and opinions that I’m not particularly afraid to share.
So despite what you read from me here or on Zen Family Habits I’m not perfect, I don’t live in a “bring on a photo shoot” ready home. At times I’m completely disorganized, impatient and moody. But you know what? I’m okay with that.
See also:
Being A Rebel: Is It Killing Your Happiness?
Get Rich, Stay Rich – Emotional Bank Accounts
Photo courtesy of: ali edwards
I must say Sherri that I’m glad to read this post.
There is no such thing as perfection, and as I wrote over at my place, there is no need for it. Being imperfect let us have a reason to improve in a lot of ways.
I’m glad you accept that you are walking the road instead of just showing it. That makes every post more valuable.
Thanks for this post, means a lot more than you think. =)
Alejandro Reyes´s last blog ..Looking at consequences…
I wouldn’t want to read about a perfect person anyway. We wouldn’t have anything in common
Nicki at Domestic Cents´s last blog ..Imperfectly Frugal
This post is perfect!
Seriously, I really enjoyed your honesty, and I think it only makes people appreciate your advice more since we know you can totally relate.
I actually just wrote a similar post at Engaged Marriage about a week ago called “Do You Practice What You Preach?” It can be really easy to feel like a hypocrite sometimes because we may know the right things to do, but we don’t always do them ourselves!
Dustin | Engaged Marriage´s last blog ..Big News for Our Family & A Happy New Year’s Link Round-Up
WOW, I love it! Nothing like lounging around in your PJ’s till noon!
Chele´s last blog ..Be Real But Be Responsible
Every once in a while, I worry that people who know me well will comment on my blog about the “real” me. The me that writes about being organized, but “you should see her utensil drawer right now” or the me that writes about making good food choices, but “I saw her at McDonald’s yesterday”. It is true that parts of our lives can seem “perfect” sometimes while the rest may not be at all. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t share that “perfect” part that may be a help and encouragement to others.
Marci@OvercomingBusy´s last blog ..Food As Prevention
WHAT??!?!?! You’re not perfect?!?!?!? Oh, I am *so* outta here!!
LOL.
Sherri, you crack me up. Of COURSE you’re not perfect, honey! Everybody knows that, because we all know that nobody ever is! You do your best, and you pick your battles (even the ones you have with yourself), and you make the best of what you have.
And if you were perfect, you wouldn’t have friends like me, and that would make me very sad. So I am thankful for your imperfections.
I just want to give you a big kiss on the forehead, you pajama-wearing, messy kitchen-having, domino’s pizza-eating, rebel you!
Jay Schryer´s last blog ..The Miracle
I love this, Sherri! I love the all-too-human side of you that sometimes gets lost in a neat and tidy image. That’s one of the things I don’t like about blogging… once we choose a topic to write about, people assume that ONE thing defines us. But we are so much more than our posts, our blogs, our interests, our strengths or our weaknesses.
I will say, however, that as I was reading through your list, I was thinking, “OK… I NEVER wake up at 5:30, never make the bed, or ANY of those things “perfect” people do. I guess I’m not even CLOSE to perfect, but I’m sure that goes without saying.
Lisis´s last blog ..Book Review: Female Brain Gone Insane
Phew, you are human, after all!
Glad to know you’re just the kind of person who’s ideas and thoughts I like to hear about.
I too love to learn and then share what I learn(even though I may fail at that very thing after I post about it. doh!!!).
I too worry that it may come across as “she has it all together!” When in fact, I truly don’t feel that way! (ok, I have moments when I feel all together. It is often when I am out by myself and I am in grown up clothes! haha)
We do write as you say, such a tiny aspect of our lives, which are usually sandwiched between more forgetable, un-post-worthly moments
I had similiar thoughts to you and wrote about “Getting the Full Picture of Motherhood” (http://jugglingmotherhood.com/2009/10/22/getting-the-full-picture-of-motherhood/)…basically saying that even though we may see “perfection” in others, it is often one dimensional. We must understand that everyone has their weakness and is struggling with something. In reality everyone has their good moments and bad moments (just some people are better at hiding their bad moments than others! hehe)
I think we get reminders of this when people write honest posts like your one today.
Thanks!
Wow, I think that’s not something weird. Could you imagine how boring it would be to be perfect?
You would do everything like a robot with no space for creativity and growth. Sorry Sherri but I’m much happy to hear you are not perfect
Oscar – freestyle mind´s last blog ..Interview with Colin Wright of Exile Lifestyle
Phew! I’m glad you guys understand and aren’t too disappointed
Thank you for your encouragement
Disappointed? It’s great to know that other bloggers aren’t prefect all the time.
I especially love the line “I don’t live in a “bring on a photo shoot” ready home.”. Great stuff!
Caitlin´s last blog ..Bloggers to Watch in 2010
You may not be perfect, but you are perfectly wonderful!
It’s comforting to know that we are all working hard, even struggling at times, to get to a better place.
Thx for this post Sherri! I just wrote a post today that was a “confession” also. I really messed up yesterday and fell off the wagon of my “Happiness Project”.
It is nice to know that all of us aren’t perfect – but that we all strive to do better every day and to take our own advice that we write about in our blogs!
Thx for sharing!
Shawna Cevraini´s last blog ..A Confession About Sleep
Hi There!
I just popped over from your comment on “Remodeling This Life”
You’ve got a lovely blog! I look forward to visiting again soon.
Cheers!
Sherri,
This is a wonderful post. The one thing i like about blogs is this: you find real people.
This morning I was drafting an article i have entitled “Wanted: Human Beings”. It basically talks about being HUMAN and how authentic it is to just be a HUMAN BEING.
And i am not surprised that i have stumbled upon this post. For me, it is a sign that i should go ahead with the post.
Thank you very much!!
Christopher´s last blog ..The Subjectivity of Authentic Identity
Sherri,
You ARE perfect…perfect at being exactly who you are. Isn’t that what REALLY matters?
Thanks for sharing your talents and gifts with the world!!
Peter Mis