Pretending to be perfect - don’t look too close

I like to start my work day extra early, so I have time to get on the net, check my email, and a few web sites I enjoy reading before work. There was not much in my email today, but the very first web site I went to was filled with new posts by unhappy people. So was the second web site.

Later, I am eating breakfast at a coffee shop, listening to someone sharing their most recent life tragedy with another person at their table. Okay, I am starting see a pattern already. At lunch I am sharing how I sometimes feel like a traveler in my own life, as I am in uncharted waters myself, and have been for many years. I never felt I had anyone to show me how to be an adult. In the past, others have mentioned that at times they have nothing to draw from in their adult life either, in some situations.

I imagine there are a lot of us who feel we do not know how to correctly manage some of the roles that make up our life. We simply invent as we go, depending on how we think we should behave or act. I remember as a young man, wondering what happened to the older adults around me? Some of the older adults seemed to be missing parts of their personalities. It seemed that most of their personality matured, but a few parts were either non existent, or immature at best. I was certainly glad I was complete, and I had no flaws or gaps in me!

Now I am here to say my rose colored glasses were pretty rosy indeed. I know now there are areas of me that are not all that. Gosh, I am human just like everyone else around me, when did that happen? The things we learn about ourselves when we have time. I imagine everyone has parts of them where they feel like they are making it up as they go.

Knowing this, I want you to know, when you feel like you are not ‘enough’ in any area of your life, no matter what that may be, whether you can tell or not, many of the people around you are just as lost as you are! Now that you and I know this, hopefully some other people have figured it out too.

If they have not figured it out, they don’t want to tell you. It may be something you are very good at. Letting you see they have flaws might make them appear less than whole to you, and they do not want that to happen. You should not be afraid to mention that you are blazing a new trail if you are unsure how you should act in a situation or role in your life. If you let others know you have little or no expertise, one of a few things is likely to happen, and none of them bad.

Others may admit they are unsure too, but offer to join in and help you.

Others understand because they were once lost too, and it is okay with them that you are a little lost.

Finally, they may be very comfortable in this area, so they will be happy to offer you advice and to help you.

All you have to do is mention you are a little unsure, and be open to accepting help. Once you do that people will be happy to offer to help you.Of course when you do this, you are showing the world you are not perfect. That is okay, because now you know most of us are not perfect. We only try and pretend we are, when we are in public. You now know better, and have nothing to be embarrassed about. You can start doing your part in making the world a better place, one situation at a time.

If you ask for help, you will find there is a lot more caring and satisfaction in the world than you thought there was. You will also make our world a better place to be in. Let me thank you in advance for being so generous with yourself, and taking the time to help me learn too!