I've been thinking about something new lately, and it's been kinda inspired by homework. Not only do I try to do a good job (usually...), but I also spend a lot of time trying to make it look super neat and organized. I guess in some respects I am a bit of a perfectionist.

More and more I am seeing the desire to be perfect in other people. Well, I don't like it, because so often the desire to be perfect sprouts from the desire to be better. If you put more make-up on than that other girl, you're prettier, you're better. If you have a faster car or louder music, you're better. If you can run faster, you're better.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with wearing make-up, driving fast, listening to loud music, or winning marathons. I'm just saying that it seems a lot of people try (very hard sometimes) to assert their superiority over you. It's like a kind of selfishness. How many times have you said something like "I finished it in about a day" and someone comes back with "I finished just under 2 hours." Then "blah, blah, blah" they go on to tell you the whole story. They selfishly take over the conversation to reiterate their superiority.

Not only should we stop trying to show off, but I believe we need to stop being perfect altogether. I know it is a desire in all of us to be the best at something, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that. But we don't need to be perfect at everything! You don't have to finish your homework the fastest, and it doesn't have to be the prettiest. You don't have to wear make-up. You don't have to drive fast. Don't be perfect, don't be superior, just be. Just live your life and have fun, don't sweat the details. Be average sometimes, and be proud of it!