Being a perfectionist is a nightmare. Seriously. It is not a flattering quality, it is not a characteristic of which I am proud, and it is a trait I have sought to moderate my entire life. If acknowledging the problem is the first step, then simply by virtue of the fact that I’ve acknowledged there is a problem means there is an inherent flaw in my perfectionism that makes for a maddening ‘catch 22.” I’m forever trying to improve upon that which should not be improved. Clearly, I’m insane.
Sure, there is nothing wrong with striving for perfection, as long as you can accept that perfection isn’t possible. I’d like to think that in the failure to achieve perfection, I can arrive at excellence instead.
The way this plays out for me in real life is that I have trouble letting go of things. One of them is my writing. If it is true that writing is ninety-five percent rewriting, then I guess that makes me a bona fide writer. I rewrite endlessly, sculpting each sentence, each paragraph, to the point that I can no longer see any of it, so I have to put it away. I recently read a quote that said something like, “To be a great artist you have to be willing to forget about being a great artist,” or something like that.
The point of this is to say that I have struggled over the first issue of the newsletter to the detriment of my subscribers, and it’s time to send it out. For heaven’s sake, who died and made me newsletter queen? Just send it out, flaws and all. Geez. I’m not going to win a Pulitzer.
So, if you are interested in some tips and tools to help you support a friend or loved one who is elderly, disabled or who endeavors to be a more competent care giver, sign up for the free Bits of Insight newsletter, or send a gift subscription to someone you know.
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I’ll just take a deep breath and think of it as a growing, evolving work in progress. I look forward to your contribution and feedback. By making the publication a collaborative effort, we will create a broader appeal and gain a broader reach.
Ready or not, here it goes…
LL