Embracing Imperfection: Finding Gratitude in Our Flaws and Life's Journey.

In a world obsessed with perfection, embracing our flaws not only liberates us but also adds vibrant color to the canvas of our lives, reminding us that life is too short to dwell on what we perceive as imperfections.

Sometimes something happens when you just stop. You take a step back from life and reassess what it all means. Sadly someone I know went to sleep on Thursday night with no idea they'd never have the tomorrow they expected. I know people say it, and life certainly is incredibly short, but I don't think you really appreciate it until its fragility stares you in the face, which sadly today it has. I've been thinking a lot about the concept of time this afternoon and how much or how little we get, and I realise I've been looking at things all wrong.

I saw a social media post last week; it was a description of a woman. When I read it, I saw everything I think about myself and I felt ashamed, and quite guilty for being so complicated. I thought about how hard I make life for the people I try to love and I wondered how I could possibly expect anyone to love me. I felt broken, and to be fair I still do to some extent. It became very easy to focus on the things I don't like about myself, the things I haven't achieved, the mistakes I've made, and all the times I've made myself unhappy for someone else, but now I think that maybe it's time I start to appreciate my struggles for what they are. Maybe tomorrow is another day where I'll overthink and regret saying the wrong thing, another day that I'll get annoyed at myself because I feel I've given people another reason to think I'm not good enough, and maybe it will be another day to stress about what may or may not happen in the future. But all of that also means it's another day to be with the people I love; time that someone else would do anything for. I don't want to spend whatever my length of time may be feeling sad that I'm not something else.

Time is never guaranteed so make choices and take risks. Enjoy it when it turns out well and learn from it when it doesn't; life is too short for regrets and even shorter for maybes. See the things you've always wanted to see, experience the things you've never got around to, have the conversations you haven't had yet, but most importantly, embrace your flaws and be yourself - unapologetically.

For example; when thinking about my next birthday, feeling sad that I am nearer 40 than 30 won't reverse the clock. Wishing I could be an age where birthdays are all about the gifts you receive and the excitement of unwrapping surprises, won't make me a child again. By growing older, the greatest gift turns from expectancy to gratitude. It becomes about who you spend your day with, who remembers to think of you, and who takes a moment to send a message every year, even if you haven't seen them in a decade. It becomes about the experiences you've had, the lessons you've learned and the reminder that you're blessed to have had another 365 days on this Earth. When you're a teenager, you wish the years away, just wanting to be an adult. At 18, after counting down the hours, you think "at last!"—like you've finally joined this elite club of older people. But by 24, you're already claiming to be "too old" for things, and hitting 30 feels like it might as well be the end. I need to hold myself responsible for making sure that my attitude toward ageing changes; growing older is actually a privilege not a burden, and every day is an opportunity to do more of what you love, and to learn to recognise and change the things you don’t. 

Unfortunately some people will not have a tomorrow. Others will not have a tomorrow with someone they love. Fortunately today has not been my turn, but tomorrow always could be. So maybe I am not as young as I was yesterday, or on my last birthday and maybe I have character flaws, traits or habbits that make me feel bad about myself, but I should embrace it because it means I'm alive. As long as I stay grateful, try hard, keep smiling, build friendships and relationships that strengthen who we are individually as well as together, apologise when I'm wrong, and always be kind, I'll know that despite everything else I think about myself, I've spent my time the best possible way.