Quote of The Day

Thursday, May 22, 2014

My Perfection Paint Party Friday

and
After reading Carolyn Dubes post a while back on letting perfection steal your joy it made me wonder what my idea of perfection is? I can honestly say my perfection of yesteryear is not   matching with  my perfection of  today. 

Some days it's  simply a good cup of java on my pc while reading blogs. A piece of music that makes me cry.  Other days it's a mesh  of beautiful color splashed on the  page matching my banner.  Or a giggle with my kids!! All pure bliss for me!  Some days things are not so perfect, but I embrace them anyway....because without those imperfections I'd have nothing to compare what is perfect in my eyes!










I actually divorced the concept of perfection many many moons ago. It's an ugly illusion to strive for....the devil incarnate!! With that I realized we all have different perspectives of what's perfect for us! Some like adventure, some are thrill seekers, others love learning, some are creatives, others like a busy life, some like it more peaceful than others!

 
 






Perfection is a very hard animal to keep up to!! It's always one step ahead of you, extremely demanding, and can steal your joy if you let it!! Why do we strive or expect perfection in so many areas of life!  I guess we do expect perfection when it comes to flying  or building planes!!!....  But when do we let go of  the need for perfection?
 For years  I aimed to present perfection in  the way I dressed...which kept me in dresses and heels most of the eighties with my hair set and sprayed daily!   I kept my house and car pretty immaculate with rarely a cup out of place. Super mom and wife  I needed perfection because I NEVER felt I was good  enough. Even being a Jill of all trades  master of none, I still felt inadequate! 


When illness struck, pperfection crashed! Some relationships died, some were revamped. Creativity knocked at my  door. I welcomed it with open arms.  After a short relationship we fell in love and decided to marry!   I'm now trying to live my happily ever after..... with perfection parked  at my front door ringing the bell. I refuse to let it in! 

Unfortunately inside the house lurks PERFECTIONS cousins...PRIDE, GUILT, SHAME, at times holding me hostage for all the things that never get done, all the things I can't do, all the things I  fall short of... I do except perfection as a song of my past, now enjoying simple things!
Picture credit Dream Goddess
Dream goddess attempted to make an Angel Food Cake for My Goddess Birthday celebration. It went flat after she accidently dropped it......
Photo Credit Dream Goddess
She used her amazing quirky  humour to make light of it!!
It's quite cute too, if I might add, and 
  I still hold the title of "Butt Ugly Cake!" maker in a google search,
because  she started again...!!! 
 Although it wasn't an Angel food cake
as first planned! 

 It was gorgeously delectable  and perfect in every way! 
Just like my beautiful Goddess friends!
Left to right, I'm the Love goddess, then Earth goddess, 
Gypsy goddess, Faery Goddess, Dream goddess and our Nature goddess
2014 Picture credit Dream Goddess!
On Wednesday I turn 58...and find it almost unfathomable that I am nearing 60!
 And although I have many imperfections including a hobble,  I am perfectly ME!
With really wonderful people in my life that I am so grateful for!
Including you!

What does perfection look like in your world???

38 comments:

Valerie-Jael said...

Great post - wise words, wonderful colours and photos! Valerie

AnnD said...

You can't really be nearing 60! Okay, you can. But you certainly don't look it, you goddess, you!

Perfection really is the ultimate killer - of creativity, joy, spontaneity, all of it. My husband has long embraced imperfection. I am slowly learning!

I love that dog with the teeth so much. SO MUCH.

Netty said...

Great post and happy birthday for Wednesday. Who wants perfection when imperfection is much easier to live with.Happy PPF, Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

Jez said...

Through my medical-drug induced haze I had to visit my dear Friend Giggles, and what a life-affirming post I find. Perfect. I'll think about it again when I zonk back to bed after the breakfast I've almost finished. And I love the direction your art it taking. Love, Jez

Unknown said...

Happy Birthday Giggles! Thank you for sharing very honest and beautifully written thoughts. You are perfect just as you are! perfect and beautiful, inside and outside! the dog painting is absolutely fab!
http://agagasiniak.blogspot.co.uk/

Laura said...

Ahh... perfection doesn't exist in my world. I don't allow it too. Striving for it makes life too stressful. Best just to: 'Do our best and enjoy it'. You can't be 58... lol

Carol Rigby said...

A great post! Happy Birthday for Wednesday and you certainly don't look your age.

sheila 77 said...

Well, Sherry, I could leave a comment as long as your post on all the ideas you have given me to think about here.
Love your artwork, both the mug of coffee alone and the cup with the lamp, they give such a good impression of a cosy coffee.
I also very much liked seeing a picture of you, so now I know what you look like, a lovely lady.
As to your theme of perfection, I could go on all day, it's another amazing thought-provoking post.

My name is Erika. said...

Happy Birthday. Glad you share those cups of coffee (its early and I need another one) and those funny dogs. Enjoy your cake...hopefully next time you won't be getting the butt ugly award.

Laila said...

Ah.......... perfection!
In my life that is being me, nothing else. Dust and mess don't kill anyone, on the contrary, it shows I'm having a good time doing other stuff.
I don't want to live in a catalouge home, I prefer it personal, that's why I live in a home not comparable to what's in at the moment and I love it.
Your post is a good reminder and your art is fun and playful. PS, you carry your years very well.

Ginny said...

Trying to be perfect is really hard and it doesn't exist. A really lovely day for me includes a quiet coffee in the morning, lunch with a good friend, laughs with my husband and time to create. Rather than trying to be perfect I now spend my days enjoying all of the special things life has to offer.
I love your lamp and coffee painting. It makes me feel warm and cozy, a feeling I love.
Happy birthday. Enjoy each and every special moment.

denthe said...

well, you sure don't look like you're nearing 60! I try to keep perfection out of our lives. As long as you try your hardest at everything you do, it's good for me, it doesn't need to be perfect. Although I tend to be a bit stricter for myself. I find I tend to postpone things because I feel I don't master it enough yet. Which isn't good, sometimes you just have to jump and see where you land .... Hope your birthday will be a "perfect" day :-)

bellefrogworks said...

Oh how I have pursued perfection - and have always fallen short! For the most part I have given it up-but the shame and guilt does rear it's ugly head on occasion. As I approach 65 (how did that happen?!) I really want to make the most of my time with family, creating and with all my other relationships - and guess what? That includes my relationship with myself. Love your post - it really struck home. As always your art makes my day smile!

GlorV1 said...

Happy birthday Giggles-on Wednesday. Love your coffee cups. Just listening to the bids outside and every day noise is perfection to me I get to breathe another day.:()

DVArtist said...

OK are we twins??? LOL this post struck so many cords of my life. As for me I also had to come to that point that due to icky lupus I can do only what I can do and that is my perfection now. You are perfect in that spirit of you as well. A beautiful woman who to me seems very giving and has a quick humor. Happy birthday to you in all of your perfections
Nicole/Beadwright

Linda Kunsman said...

LOVE this post-and your awesome paintings!!! The cakes look perfectly imperfect- and I love how humor set the tone for the fallen cake:)And I LOVE that photo of you goddesses-fabulous! I no longer strive for perfection but it's taken me years to get that that was just wasted energy all along. Wishing you a very HAPPY, JOYFUL, FUN-FILLED birthday Sherrie! Mwah!

Faye said...

Wow, love the goddesses photo! Well, Sherrie, wait till you are nearing 80!!! THAT is really hard to believe. When I was young I wondered if I would see the 21st century and figured I probably would not.

I enjoyed your art today and also what you wrote:
Some days things are not so perfect, but I embrace them anyway....because without those imperfections I'd have nothing to compare what is perfect in my eyes!

Zana said...

Love your doggie pic made me laugh. Happy Birthday for Wednesday. Perfection and me never did sit well together, only it took me a long time to realise. I think illness made me let go! You and your goddess friends look wonderful. Perfection for me now is a good mug of coffee, a sunny day and a paintbrush or pencil in my hand, or just sitting in my garden.

Joy Murray said...

To be imperfect in an imperfect world is perfection. And as you've already found out, perfection is the enemy of creation. Thanks for sharing your perfectly wonderful thoughts and creations with us.

Paper rainbow said...

A happy Birthday to you,I hope you have a lovely day. who needs perfection, it only brings disappointment, acceptance of what is and taking pleasure in the small things is what makes me comfortable.

Abigail Davidson said...

Happy Birthday to you! Love the coffee art. Thanks for sharing!

Forgetfulone said...

Love your paintings! And I love what you have to say about perfection. Sometimes "good enough" is perfect!

Marianne said...

Happy birthday.
This post really made me think - thank you so much for sharing it.

Fallingladies said...

wonderful post... perfection has simplified for me as well, just a bit of time to myself, such a rare thing can make the world alright again... thanks for sharing and for always leaving such wonderful comments for me....

Alicia C said...

Awesome post as usual... just today, after watching a tv show with a very bitchy, entitled, rich spoilt teenager, I wondered at how ppl can be so hateful and ungrateful and actually clueless about life - finally I decided that, what you feel entitled to grows exponentially in proportion to how much you have. Just like perfection. Have a great weekend!

kat said...

Oh best of wishes for your Birthday to come! Lulu turns three on Friday and my Birthday was on the 18th of May, so we too are May girls! Your art and words are always fun to visit! Perfect for me are the quiet special moments in life, when I feel time slow and smooth, the simple moments and there are so many of those if we just take the time!

Gillena Cox said...

Luv the 'happily ever after' coffee theme; oh and a happy weekend Much to all you goddesses

Much love...

Ariel said...

Advanced wishes for you on your birthday Sherrie. Hmm! once I too thought perfection was everything. But now I don't use that word instead use the phrase: give your best shot. My son complains that I need him to be 'perfect' in studies and I correct him and tell him to give his best at whatever he does.I want us to use our potential to the maximum in all that we do.
Wishing you a wonderful birthday week. You look great.
Hugs
Susan

Carol said...

Happy Birthday dearest Goddess Friend!!! Another thought provoking post with wonderful art. I do so love the puppy :) Hoping your Birthday WEEK is full of amazing fantasies come true ♥♥♥♥♥

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

Happy Birthday! You are certainly perfect, because you are just the way God intended you to be… a creative, thoughtful, and loving soul. Blessings!

Shauna said...

What a beautiful post. I love your writing style as well as your paintings. The dogs are darling and I love the color combination on the coffee cups. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Viola said...

Haha- so fun to read your post! :)
Perfection... is a word I don't like. As I don't like to be perfect.. But i do get upset when I find my flat not as tidy as I would like to..:/ maybe that is a kind of perfection? I love tidy rooms, but sometimes I find it messed up..and I get confused and in bad temp..

You're a lovely lady, as are your paintings, full of life and colors! :)

Is it a photo of you up in the right, sidebar? I thougt you were younger, but what is age really? I feel as you, I cannot believe I have reached to be "that grown-up" ;D I'm 53.. we all have to go through the same strang travel of life, strange isn't it..

Hugs from me :)

Victoria said...

Yay , what a beautiful post, I adore the photo of all of you gorgeous Goddessy ladies..how fun and you look gorgeous..Happiest Birthday, wishing you many magical and creative adventures ahead !Fantastic art, love the dog!No sch thing as perfection for me,only beautiful imperfection.. loved all of the thoughts you shared!
HUgs and Blessings
Cheers B-day girl
Victoria

Lynn Cohen said...

First of all I perfectly love your art! I don't want it getting side swiped in the question and answer period!
I've never been anywhere near to perfect. And the perfection knock is the monkey knocking at the door whether it's telling me my house isn't clean or neat enough, or my art isn't good enough. I have pretty much perfected not listening to it! So I am almost perfect on those scores, but it's taken me over seventy years to get there! I have a very good life, filled with lots to be grateful for, the list too long to crowd your room here. Let it surface to say I've no complaints, I'll take the few dips with the highs, and call it perfect enough for me. Happy birthday and know that to me you will always be young in my eyes! Enjoy each new day to the fullest .... Xoxo Lynn

PiaRom said...

Oh happy birthday to the godess of "words and best stories" ♥♥♥ as most of the time you directly shot into my heart with your wonderful post! I too have a relationship with perfection and now be again inspired to let loose of this connection :) thank you for two so lovely and vibrant cups of hot yumminess! I love the white light around the second one and the sweetlampshade alot!!♥ Conny Mix It Monthly

Janet said...

Happy birthday!!! I hope you have a fun-filled day with your family and friends...and lots of delicious cake.

Perfection used to be my constant companion but as I've gotten older and hopefully wiser I've given up on all that. There is no perfection in my life!! I just live and enjoy.

Meihsia Liu said...

Beautiful creation and great post. Love! :)

stefanie stark said...

Right now I found this post on your blog and I just want to say, I LOVE LOVE LOVE the coffe mug and lampshade picture!

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