Striving for perfection?

I am not a perfectionist.

At least that is what I would have said til now.

I love pareto's 80 / 20 rule and often claim I am more of a 60 / 40 kind of person.

However recently I have been challenging this assumption, not least because of a comment left on last weeks blog about "being grumpy at home and happy in the office".

The comment made me think twice.  See below.

"First of all bickering and burdened is entirely compatible with happy and normal. We are none of us perfect and the bickering is a way of responding to the burden. What seems less normal is the image of perfection you are painting about your work life - your last sentence may be key to resolving the conundrum."

I began asking myself, what am I striving for? At work and at home. Is it perfection?

I would never have thought it was perfection, yet when I read this comment and thought about the efforts I go to sometimes to do the right thing, to ensure I send that mail, to follow up with that person, to call someone back. I have to admit I go to extreme measures to get most of these things done. Not forgetting that I want to go to the gym and be at home for dinner.

What is it that I am unwilling to let go of?

Is it OK if the laundry is not done?

Is it OK if I reply on Monday to the email I received yesterday?

Is it OK if I skip the gym?

Is it OK if I miss the work dinner?

Is it OK if I don't do everything that I believe is asked or expected of me?

Well of course it is OK in all of these cases, yet I strive to be all of these things to all of these people. What for? Who for? Why is it so important?

Are my expectations unrealistic? 

What if I let a few things go and relax a little more?

I was asked in a course this week, "What would your 95 year old say to you today?"  My answer was "Relax a little more, chill, let some stuff go"

I am not sure how I start about it, but having an intent seems a good way.

What would your 95 year old self say to you?