Perfection Is Overrated, Yes, But Start Anyway

I bought a pair of trousers the other day and I couldn’t wait to bask in the glory of my new purchase. I had an idea of what I would pair it with and how the whole outfit would come together. I also imagined how much praise I would receive from the ensemble. As we say, “luku ni moto, luku ni safi.” Fast forward to the D-day, and there I am, smartly dressed, headed in for an exam. One rule about exams from my campus days is that we’d always dress sharply for it, just in case things go sideways, at least your fit is on fire. So, as the exams go on, I notice a defect in my trousers. There is a long thread hanging from one of the sides. Being a perfectionist, I wanted to cut it off, but I remembered I am in an exam, and fidgeting can be considered cheating, so I sat still.

This situation takes me back 3 years. I have difficulties getting shoes I like, story for another day, but this day I get the exact shoes I want; they fit and are at an affordable price. The stars just aligned. The shoe fits, so I buy it without a second thought. I get home and notice a slight defect on it after an in-depth inspection. Being a perfectionist, I fix it myself- my bad. When I wore it next, the area where I fixed it was so rigid it felt like a razor, cutting into my gentle skin. I finally asked for help, and guess what- the damage was irreparable. Back to the thread, I was reminded that cutting it to make it perfect might make it imperfect.

As a species, we are sometimes fixated on achieving perfection. We wait for the stars to align before we can do anything or take the next steps. We stay stuck in the same position for ages and watch life go by. I once heard someone say, “Whether you decide to take a 4-year course right now or later, at the end of 4 years, you will be four years older.” We decide not to do something till the conditions are perfectly right. And don’t get me wrong, some situations- tilling the land or making hay -may be dictated by perfect conditions, but as humans we aren’t. The decision for self-growth is only dependent on how much we want it and how willing we are to work for it.

We wait for the perfect time to join a self-help group, the perfect time to go back to school, the perfect time to live our lives unapologetically. The perfect time to start a family. The perfect time to start a business. The perfect time to go to therapy- unfortunately we wait for rock-bottom before we try this.

I am taken back to the Scientific Comedy, The Big Bang Theory, where Dr. Sheldon Cooper and his wife, Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler, won a Nobel Peace Prize in Physics for their work in Super Asymmetry. This is a fictional theory of String Theory, which is a group of ideas in Theoretical Physics stating that the building blocks of nature are made of strings and not blocks. This idea popped into their heads when Sheldon couldn’t get his bowtie straight for their wedding- an occasion meant to be perfect, yet an imperfection brought an idea that won them a Nobel Peace Prize.

I conclude that there is no perfect time; there is now. Take that leap of faith and watch as grace carries you through. And just like my friend who couldn’t wear her natural hair as it wasn’t long enough, embrace what you think is imperfect and confidently flaunt it. Who knows, maybe the world will love you in your “imperfect” short hair. Don’t miss something good looking for something perfect.

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Vivian Mulaa

Care Manager – Wellness

Managed Medical Care

Minet Kenya Insurance Brokers Limited