I re-blogged an Elisabeth Kubler-Ross quote this morning about resiliency. I am not always comfortable with new things or taking risks, yet I took huge risks in my adult life. I went back to university as a married adult with a family and, to some extent, we reversed roles for several years in our family. Kathy was the primary bread-winner. We sacrificed things others around us took for granted, but in the long run we ended up where we wanted to be, here.
I learned on this journey called life that bumps on the road are more worthwhile than perfectly planned and executed outcomes, if those happen. I found, the past few years, as hard as I wished for things to be a certain way did not make them that way. I hope it makes me a better person learning that things do not work out perfectly and that is part of the joy of life.
Elizabeth Carlson wrote this beautiful poem about falling in love with my imperfections. I am more complete with them.
I am falling in love
with my imperfections
The way I never get the sink really clean,
forget to check my oil,
lose my car in parking lots,
miss appointments I have written down,
am just a little late.
I am learning to love
the small bumps on my face
the big bump of my nose,
my hairless scalp,
chipped nail polish,
toes that overlap.
Learning to love
the open-ended mystery
of not knowing why
I am learning to fail
to make lists,
use my time wisely,
read the books I should.
Instead I practice inconsistency,
irrationality, forgetfulness.
Probably I should
hang my clothes neatly in the closet
all the shirts together, then the pants,
send Christmas cards, or better yet
a letter telling of
my perfect family.
But I’d rather waste time
listening to the rain,
or lying underneath my cat
learning to purr.
I used to fill every moment
with something I could
cross off later.
Perfect was
the laundry done and folded
all my papers graded
the whole truth and nothing but
Now the empty mind is what I seek
the formless shape
the strange off center
sometimes fictional
me.
Teacher as Transformer 
Brilliant ..
Thank you.
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What most important is to feel happy…
nobody’s perfect..
imperfection is us..
imperfection makes us do things better..
imperfection makes us value things and people..
imperfection is just perfect!
Have a perfect happy day.. 🙂
I did thank you. Thank you for the lovely verse Katrina
you’re most welcome Ivon Sir..
Wonderful post. Thank you for all of it–the inspiring quotation, wise musings about your journey and the excellent poem. Cheers
Cheers back and thank you for the kind words
This is so—gorgeous. It is so me. Thank you so very much!
You are welcome
Beautiful poem, learning to love all facets of self. . . thank you for sharing!
You are welcome.
self acceptance is key to the rest of it. Lovely poem and backstory. 🙂
Thank you
Another gem, thank you Ivon
You are welcome Valerie.
I believe it’s one of the key to happiness – to accept ourselves and others with all the imperfections that come with it but still finding the beauty in the imperfection and then they are not so imperfect after all! 🙂
It is. I cannot be something I am not and that makes it better to accept that.
This is wonderful Ivon. Thank you.
You are welcome Yaz.
I love the notion of falling in love with our imperfections – those marvelous, quirky aspects of who we are that we typically view with an apologetic shrug. There is much to savor in those characteristics, for they further define our wonderful humanity.
We can turn away or see them for what they are-the completing of who we are.
I want to tell you that your post really spoke to me. I am currently contemplating going back to school, and am somewhat nervous with now having a family to support, but hearing a small bit of your own story is inspiring, so thank you!!
You are welcome. I did because I had someone in my life who made a difference. Kathy supported, pushed, and helped at every turn. She knew this is what I wanted at the time. I am at another intersection in life and am embracing the uncertainty of it all much better,
This is a reminder to me as I seem to be in that mode and wondering at the reason for it. I now know it is one of the pockets of time and maturity.
If I just wait a moment, I will be out of this trough of time and into the next.
Bumps on the road are a part of this life, whether we plan well or don’t…
They make life fuller somehow. Sometimes the bumps turn out to be rich and add much to life.
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What a wonderful poem to share! Thank you, Ivon. I linked to this post today:
http://lifeasimprov.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/everyday-chaos/
It is so interesting how themes emerge and we are connected in this way. I had seen the post earlier as well. I went back to it and re-enjoyed the poem and video.
I greatly enjoyed both these poems, Ivon. Thank you, for sharing them.
Russ
You are welcome Russ
Yes! These days, it is all about imperfection. Age does teach humility.
Beautiful.
It is a lovely poem.
A wonderful post. Thanks for sharing. Bumps in the road, build character in the life of the overcomer.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
They truly do.
We are like two sides of a coin, the spiritual side and the physical side. The imperfection is the trimmings of being mortal however, being cognizant of ones imperfection is an impetus to bringing ourselves to account each day and recognising the insignificance of mankind in the presence of the creator. It is all part of growth and development of ones holistic self. Inspirational post dear Ivon.
Thank you Shashi. Your comment is quite profound and makes perfect sense.
Your comment is deeply appreciated. Thankyou.
I loved this post. It is so true and profoundly human.
It is a gentle reminder that we are each human and compassion, like so many things, begins at home.
I love this post. Elizabeth’s poem is “Me” all the way through. Nice to know we’re not alone. Thanks for this thought-provoking post. We all have so much to learn, to teach, to be thankful for… Thanks, Ivon. Bette
You are welcome Bette. I am glad you enjoyed.
As a psych major and a cancer survivor I can’t get enough of the Kubler-Ross poem. However, I loved yours just as much as I was lying 2 hours with my cat listening to her purring this am!
Her thinking has got me through tough times the last few years, as well.
A beautiful poem that reminds us that learning to love ourselves is fundamental to balance and moving forward whole in life.
Very best wishes to you,
Emma.
Thank you Emma. You are right love begins at home, in our soul and works outwards from there.
I’m always glad when you stop by. I get to read more of you.
Namasté
Thank you. I enjoy stopping by your eclectic blog. You provide so much diversity of topics.
I’ve been pondering the conflation of the saying, ‘feet of clay’ and something rather puzzling that someone told me a few months back, ‘God’s heart is in your feet.’ Somehow, this post seems to fit the bill!
It is a great reminder of the idea the flaws make us fully human.
Reblogged this on lost creek publishing.