Ms Perfectionist, here's the door

In wanting to excel at everything I do, I periodically come face to face with my Ms. Perfectionist in the mirror. 

She's been my friend for years, my confidante, my cheerleader. 

But here's the thing. 

Ms. Busy Busy Busy also keeps me from doing some things that matter, like having a slow morning, watching cartoons, and enjoying a conversation about nothing. These are important, too.

In my (ahem) almost-thirties, I am so at peace with who I am and what I bring to the table.

I came across some good reminders about nipping those perfectionist thoughts in the bud. It's all about excellence, rather than perfection.

I found this on my travels in the interweb:

"We all want to stay true to ourselves. Of course we do. But it's okay if the "yourself" you're staying true to has changed. When you were 20, you thought you'd take a bucket-list trip every year and have enlightening conversations about the meaning of life at every dinner (each one of which would be life-changing-ly delicious and exotic). If the 40-year-old you is happy, then don't let 20-year-old hold you hostage. No offense, but 20-year-old you was so...20 years ago.

We know, we know, you're almost perfect. You can imagine the perfect you. She's a lot like real you, except just a touch perfecter. She effortlessly balances her stellar career and social life, puts her partner and family first and every night finds time to make an interesting and healthful dinner, spotlessly clean her home, talk to her mother, knit a baby hat for a friend, run three miles, read a novel and, of course, get enough sleep so that she can be that same stellar self in the morning. She would be the perfect partner. And so many of us fall into her wily trap, trying to become her and in the process driving ourselves—and everyone else—crazy. Here's the thing about Perfect Woman: She's boring. She makes everyone feel bad for not being as perfect as she is. And besides, too much self-sacrifice doesn't actually make a woman perfect; in practice, it makes her frantic. Does your partner want to spend eternity with a frantic woman? More importantly, do you? Didn't think so."

I've got a great career in my future, a loving husband and son, and things are looking up.

Be well!