Perfectly (Imperfect)

After reading this blog post yesterday, I was inspired to chime in with my own words as well. I don't think I can even count how many times I have started writing a post like this, only to save it in my drafts because I just couldn't find the right words!

This idea of "perfection" has been around since the dawn of mankind. Unfortunately, the internet has made a false image of "perfection" attainable. It's taken Perfection to the next level. I've seen it happen on Facebook, where people will constantly post status updates about how amazing their life is, or they will untag themselves from every semi-unflattering photo (ok, I have untagged myself before, but I'm talking about being hyper-vigilant here) while posting only professionally doctored photographs. This kind of false-image creation happens in the blog-world on a much larger scale.

We have the opportunity to pick and choose what we share on our blogs, which is why it may be tempting to only share the wonderful, perfect, amazing things. But in real life, I am not friends with people who set themselves on the Pedestal of Perfection. I am friends with real-life women who are honest in their struggles and their day-to-day lives. So, why on earth would I want to read a blog about someone's so-called "perfect" life?

Josh and I live a pretty moderate life. We don't drive super nice cars, or live in a perfect house. We get in stupid arguments and I am the Queen of Sulking. I have always struggled with my own image (like so many women do!), my acne-prone skin in particular. I also have struggled on and off with depression and anxiety my whole life. I'm Perfectly Imperfect in just about every way. 

Another element to this is the fact that I am a Christian, and I think there's a temptation for us Christian women to show that we are true believers by being good all of the time. But you know what? I am not good all of the time. I may be a Christian, but that doesn't mean that I don't struggle with my human nature anymore. In fact, I struggle with it even more! I have to tell you, these past few weeks God has been doing MAJOR work in my heart. I can be crabby, mean, selfish, rude, and lazy, among other things. And God has been gently prying these things from my heart and helping me to replace them with Christ-like characteristics. God is the standard of Holiness, not me.

I don't think that people who put up a false image of themselves are bad people. I think they are just confused and struggling with their own problems, and maybe the internet is just a way of creating a life that feels better than the one they are actually living. But the truth is, they are only making other people feel bad about themselves. And Perfection has a way of isolating itself. I would rather be Imperfect and surrounded by other wonderfully Imperfect people, than be Perfect and be alone.


Wow, this post is getting long! It's a true blog-rant! =) Ok, so I know that I'm preaching to the choir here. Because the truth is, I choose my blog-friends like I do my real friends. I want to be open, honest, and real and I follow blogs that are that way. Those of you who regularly read my blog and comment (all 6 of you! Hehe!) are real people, and I'm SO incredibly thankful for you! So what can we do to fight this onslaught of internet perfection? We can keep being real with ourselves and with our blogs. I want to do that, because I don't ever want someone to read my blog and go away feeling bad about themselves. Amen? I'm interested to hear your thoughts, so please leave comments and let me know what you think!

Also- if you didn't read the original post by Rachel at Maybe Matilda, I would encourage you to do so!