Let's Be Real

Recently I've seen a trend in the blogging world that I love. Many have been honestly blogging about their...well...imperfections.... and I find it to be so refreshing.

We are not perfect. No one on this earth is. So why do we want to always show each other our best? Maybe it's because we are insecure about what we consider failures and portraying our best side makes us feel better? Maybe it's because we don't want to feel vulnerable? Or maybe it's just habit.

It's not lying to show our best- but it's not the entire truth either.

Haven't you ever seen someone mess up or realized they haven't got it together? While that person might have worried about being judged you were probably silently thinking "oh good- they're not as perfect as I thought- this makes me feel so much better and I like them even more for it. I feel closer to them."

Seeing others imperfections makes us feel normal.

We really have a crazy way of thinking (and when I say "we" I mean our society) We think that if we show our strengths and the things we excel in- then we will be more liked. But are people that try to appear perfect ever really liked? It's the imperfections that draw us together. The recognition that someone else struggles with the same thing as we do.

I doubt this was an issue back in the days before HGTV and Facebook and Pinterest.

Back in the day (did I really just say that?) we could only really compare ourselves with those who we physically saw in person. Now with the tv and internet there are literally millions we can compare with- not that we should- but face it- we do.

We're drowned in images of what we should be or should look like and what once might have felt like enough suddenly makes us feel like failures- when the only area we are failing at is taking God word to heart that we are precious and perfect as we are. Because he made us. And He doesn't make mistakes. Yes, we are sinners. But with the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf- that makes us invaluable. Irreplaceable. Unique. Worthy.

So the question is- how do we stop compairing?

Honestly? I don't know.

It's something I have always struggled with but I'm getting better with maturity.

I wish I could send a message to my 15 year old self that had so many "if only" thoughts running through her mind.

If only I had her nose or her hair or her personality or her flat stomach. It can take over and before you know it you are living in an "if only" world and missing out on here and now.

So let's start off by being more truthful. Yes I have posted pictures of some nice dinners (I think so at least) I've made for my family lately on Facebook. But do you notice the picture is zoomed in so you can't see the disaster that my kitchen is? It's so bad right now I could probably call FEMA (jk)

What we share is usually only a snapshot of the entire picture.

I hope that my friends would say that for them I "zoom out" and show them the mess around the lovely dinner. That I am open and honest and "what you see is what you get"- I cry and laugh and get angry and sad and wear my heart on my sleeve.

But I wonder...why can't I do that with myself? If that makes sense. To others I'm like "this is me- and I'm sorta a mess sometimes but that's ok" but to myself I easily get lost again in the world of "what-if"s and "if only"s.

So the point of my late night rambling...is I want to cheer the women who are real and honest. Who make me realize that I AM completely normal (ok maybe a little crazy). Who on faith step out and say "here ya go world- this is me- take it or leave it!"

Keep it up ladies!

It brings us together as women.

We don't have it all together. And that's okay. Because there really is only One who does- and we're going to miss out if we spend all our energy trying to impress and pretend.

Let the truth bond us in a way that all the lies of the society and media can't break. And let's teach our daughters what normal really looks like. So the next generation can break out of the "if only" world and own today for what it is an how fabulous they really are.

Let's be real.

(Disclaimer- I was hit in the head twice today by my boys and then also hit in the nose- so if this doesn't make sense or "flow" if you will- feel free to blame it on my kids. Kidding. Sorta.)