Celina Week #11: Little Miss Perfect?
I dot my i’s and cross my t’s.
Who doesn’t?
I like to check that the line above each “t” is immaculate, that I pay close attention to the spaces in between the words, to double check if I am grammatically correct in the sentence I write right now.
Perfectionism is one of those age-old, “it’s a blessing…and a curse” type situations. If Procrastination liked to wear hats, this is the one it would have on most of the time. If I had a vice, it would be admitting that I almost envy those who cannot have this wonderful blessing/curse that I do--except for the fact that I am being completely sarcastic. Did I do that dash thing right?
I have been a perfectionist for as long as I can remember, but these past few years have shown me that something is often better than a “perfect" something. For all the blood, sweat, tears and matcha I spend worrying about being perfect, it ironically gets me absolutely nowhere. If anything, I’ve been dancing around this particular level for so long, I’ve backtracked. I tell myself that under x and y circumstances, with a certain amount of sleep, and cardio workout, I will land in the ideal place to finally do something.
But that doesn’t, and never will, exist. It is frankly unrealistic and completely unsustainable. Then again, what do I know? I’ve only spent about seventeen minutes trying to put something on this very page.
…
There we go.
Hi, Celina! While reading your blog, I felt like I was inside your head and following your thought process in writing this post, especially because of all of the rhetorical questions you’ve scattered throughout it. Your blog captures the essence of perfectionism so beautifully, as you emphasize the specific actions that you’re taking in writing this blog to ensure it’s perfect while also addressing its drawbacks.
ReplyDeleteAlong with that, your reflection on how doing something is often better than continuously striving to make it perfect really resonated with me. While putting more work and effort into something to elevate its quality can be beneficial, the constant yearning for perfection, often at the cost of sleep and time, is usually unrealistic and not worth the little bit better result at the end. Still, oftentimes, I do put in the extra effort in the hopes of making my writing or preparation for something more and more perfect; it’s almost become a habit that I regret sometimes. Overall, the fact that you’ve written this in 17 minutes is really impressive, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog and reflecting on it!
Hello Celina! I enjoyed reading your blog and appreciated the style in which you wrote it. It felt as if I was in your mind, reading your inner thoughts while thinking of what to write about for this week’s blog. The introduction sentence immediately captured my interest and intrigue. It is amazing that you are able to recognize that your perfectionism has not been the force for good that you expected it to be. Constantly trying to make something the best it can possibly be can often be unrealistic. I will admit that sometimes I can get caught up in the details and spend hours trying to perfect my assignments or work and the end result is often disappointing due to my high expectations. I enjoyed reading your blog and hope to read more of your work in the future!
ReplyDeleteHello, Celina! I definitely found your blog this week relatable as I often also find myself prioritizing perfectionism over efficiency and passion; sometimes, the little details carry too much weight, and I get overwhelmed by my prevailing need to constantly fix what isn’t there. The way you decided to write this blog is very interesting and unique: aiming for a specific word count is never easy, and I admire your dedication to utilizing this as a talking point for a fitting topic like perfectionism. I enjoyed you taking us through your mental processes and your fight against the need to constantly perform at unattainable levels, and it is interesting how you connect procrastination with perfectionism. I personally have not thought about this way, but maybe people’s strive for perfection is actually what leads them to further and further put things off. I thoroughly enjoyed reading your take on this concept, and I look forward to reading more about your opinions on matters such as this.
ReplyDeleteHello, Celina. Your blog captured the paradox of perfectionism with hints of humor and entertaining amounts of self-awareness. Your blog was composed of a pleasant conversational tone, clever metaphors (Procrastination’s hat), and personal details. It made the blog really engaging as well as relatable to read. The idea that perfectionism fuels procrastination is something that I resonate with. I often need to clean my room into a spotless state in order to bunker down and start work time. As you described crafting the “ideal” environment to work is counterintuitive when I end up spending almost as much time preparing to work than working. The ending in your blog was also really strong, ironic yet satisfying to read. To me your blog is a reminder that sometimes blatantly starting is better than waiting for the most auspicious time. I really enjoyed how relatable and fun to read your blog was. Really hope to read from you more!
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