The Pursuit of Perfection

---------- Forwarded message --------- From: John Ames Birch <amesbirch403@gmail.com> Date: Thu., Jul. 8, 2021, 1:52 p.m. Subject: The Pursuit of Perfection (Opinion) To: <justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca>, <chrystia.freeland@parl.gc.ca>, <dujarric@un.org>, <antonio.ferrari@un.org>, <haqf@un.org>, <sqcentral@un.org>, <aclupreferences@aclu.org>, <actso@naacpnet.org>, <america@aljazeera.net>, <ankra-consular@international.gc.ca>, <anthony.rota.c1@parl.gc.ca>, <askus@novascotia.ca>, <assistance@liberal.ca>, <carolyn.bennett@parl.gc.ca>, <justin.bratinga@gov.ab.ca>, <yves-francois.blanchet@parl.gc.ca>, <calgary@globalnews.ca>, <chinaembpress_us@mfa.gov.cn>, <jean-yves.duclos@parl.gc.ca>, <Jason.darrah@banff.ca>, <edmonton@globalnews.ca>, <GlobalBarrie@globalnews.ca>, <haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk>, <info@rttv.ru>, <jacob.loesh@state.mn.us>, <jamie.l.ruiz@cbp.dhs.gov>, <jedminston@nationalpost.com>, <jeff_klein@dkcnews.com>, <jsavikataaq@gov.nu.ca>, <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, <AGR.Minister@gov.bc.ca>, <msnbctvinfo@nbcuni.com>, <newstips@globaltv.com>, <news@skynews.com>, <news@connexionfrance.com>, <pjohnston@postmedia.com>, <premier@gov.ab.ca>, <premier@gov.bc.ca>, <premier@gov.nl.ca>, <premier@gov.nt.ca>, <premier@gov.pe.ca>, <premier@gov.sk.ca>, <premier@gov.yk.ca>

Hey everyone, I have heard for decades about perfection and how so many seek it. Striving, sacrificing and saving to inch closer and closer to an ideal of being the perfect person. This standard of perfection of what some deem relevance is dangerous to the individual and the collective. Everyone wants to improve upon themselves and this is a noble goal however the pressure of perfection can destroy a person without them realizing it. Society seems to hold this standard to everyone from the worker to the politicians. This idea that if we are not perfect we are somehow less than we should be. This idea is instilled early on as parents try to improve their children to be better than they were. Keeping them busy with school, sports and social activities. Expecting perfection from them in every asset while who they are or want to be is overshadowed by this pursuit. The pursuit to get into the best schools, get the best jobs and have that perfect life society tells us to strive for. This idea of perfection is thrust upon us. This higher standard we hold our leaders to as well as ourselves. We expect perfection from leadership, we expect them to be above the people. We hold them to this impossible standard and crucify them when they dont meet it. We raise them so far above to this higher standard that we remove them from being one of the people and then we are so surprised when they can no longer lead the people. To me, this pursuit of perfection is prohibitive to passions and dismantles our best futures in pursuit of a perfect one. Perfection is not a destination, it's a journey. We are meant to stumble at times, to fall so we can learn to rise. To improve upon who we were yesterday without fear of failure. There is no one standard of perfection because each of us are unique as is our idea of perfection. I have seen firsthand how the pursuit of the perfect future can corrupt the happiness of our present. I have seen good people buckle under the weight of other peoples standards and history has shown the folly of such pursuits. Maybe it's ok if were a bit rough around the edges, it's ok if you fail at times or stumble amidst your dreams. This doesn't mean your worthless or stuck in woe. We are imperfect and that's ok, all we can do is work to improve ourselves everyday and be better then who we were yesterday. We must temper this ideal of improvement with self compassion and understand that a failure today doesn't define your legacy, it doesn't diminish your destiny. Failure is a chance to learn and grow and each failure is another brick in the road to understanding. Keep loving yourselves despite your failings and love others when they stumble and fall. Stand with them and help them to their feet so that together we can stand as one. Stay safe, stay sanitized and stay supportive, John Ames Birch @johneames2