Embrace Imperfection

A couple of weeks ago, my self-discipline wavered.

That week was a whirlwind of relentless work and personal chores, and the weekend became a catch-up marathon. By Sunday evening, I was exhausted, my usual energy siphoned off by the week's demands.

When I dragged myself into bed, the clock approached 21:30, past my typical bedtime. Until then, I had built a 31-week streak of writing and publishing articles for you. Drained of willpower, I fell into a deep sleep as my head hit the pillow, my laptop forgotten in my backpack, the chain I had painstakingly forged, broken.

If my absence disappointed you, dear reader, I sincerely apologise. But do I regret my decision? No. After all, nobody is perfect, least of all me. It's not the end of the world when we skip a gym session, fail to publish a blog post or sneak a sugary treat.

Our egos can easily shame us with cruel labels like loser or disappointment. It's important to offer ourselves some grace. The journey of life is beautifully imperfect, as are we. The notion of perfection is, after all, just a myth.

So, yes. I skipped a week. But here I am, back in the game.

Carving out time to write within a crowded schedule is like scaling a mountain. It's not easy, but that's the point. Worthwhile accomplishments demand effort and perseverance. A fit, healthy body? That calls for regular exercise and a balanced diet. A fulfilling career? That's a product of long, focused work hours and relentless self-education. A flourishing relationship? That requires patience, consistent effort, and compromise. Sitting idly by, wishing and waiting for divine intervention to shower us with gifts is a surefire way to disappointment.

Now, dear reader, what can you learn from my experience? Here are some key takeaways:

1. It's okay to stumble sometimes. We must accept this and be gentle with ourselves.
2. Our worth shouldn't tie itself to perfection but to resilience and our ability to bounce back.
3. We should challenge ourselves to be consistent in our work and know when to rest.
4. Lastly, everything worth having demands consistent effort and patience (not miracles).

Remember: even a stumble is a step on the path to self-mastery.

So, let's get back to it, shall we?

Until next week,

Ric.

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