The “Perfect” Time

You know what phrase I used to really hate growing up? Actually, I still hate it, if I’m being honest. It’s the phrase “Practice makes perfect”. I feel like it was used to motivate us in whatever we were doing, but in the worst way. It emphasized the need to be “perfect”, which is something that we can never be because humans are far from “perfect”.

I don’t know about some of you, but I know that whenever I was working on a task, whether basketball or school related, it needed to be perfect. I would be so engrossed in it because of that damn phrase, “Practice makes perfect”. Throw in a dash of OCD (love you mom) and a sprinkle of anxiety, and boom! Welcome, obsession and exhaustion. It’s crazy because it was never that I was afraid to do something. Ok, maybe sometimes. But, It was more of the fear of not being “perfect” or living up to the standards set by society that deemed certain things as “perfect”.

We make mistakes every single day. That’s the fact of the matter. I drink hot chocolate most days now that it’s getting brick outside, and by the time I’m done, there’s a little spot on my shirt. For those 2 seconds that I notice, I’m like ‘Again’? But, then I laugh it off because I know that each time I drink it, I’ll be more aware of making that mess on my shirt. I’m telling myself that I know I’m not “perfect”, but I’m working towards getting better at that one small task.

Me telling you that story was for a bit of humour, but also for a lesson in the grand scheme of things. Too often, we feel that things always need to be “perfect”. They never will be. Yes, there’s the right time to do things. Of course, you need to plan and prepare if you’re going to venture out with something else. But, is there a “perfect” time? Really sit back and think of a time where you’ve waited for the timing to be “perfect”. Did it ever come?

You ever notice that the more you wait for the “perfect” time, you’re wasting more time waiting for something that’ll never come? More times than none, you’ve just said YOLO and taken the plunge. You’ve accepted the fact that if you don’t move now, you might not ever. And I’m sure you’re in a much better position because of it. Also, guess what? Even if you did take that step and things didn’t work out, you’re still better for it. You did something that you were uncomfortable doing and gained some valuable experience. So in my eyes, you’re a winner regardless.

“Perfection is a perception”. So no one is telling you to be perfect, but you. If COVID has taught us one thing, it’s that time waits on no one. So, don’t waste anymore time. It might be challenging, but the only person you need to bet on is yourself. So trust yourself. You got this.

Peace and blessings.

CB