v.2 On Progress: What If Perfect Isn’t The Point?
Welcome to Life, Created—a new [old school] blog for modern times. This twice-a-week(ish) dispatch is a space for us to dig deeper, share ideas, recognize microjoys and build community beyond the mindless scroll.
Me, starting, while upstate at a friend’s recent writing retreat
What would happen if we just did the thing we’ve been thinking, née procrastinating, about for ages without all the unnecessary drama of overthinking and attempting perfection?
As I committed to launching this blog with a focus on long(er)-form thoughts around wellbeing, lifestyle and all things grown ass womanhood, I spent weeks working on the title and headline. Not the content—but the fucking title and headline. “Because it must have a cohesive theme and people must know exactly what they can come to this blog for before I release it upon the world.” Insert eyeroll here, folks.
Here I sat. Brainstorming. Questioning. Voice memo’ing friends for opinions. Questioning my own legitimacy. Backtracking. Walking away. Reconsidering. Before finally circling back and just writing.
Allow me to brag about myself for a moment, please—to prove my point. (Clearly this makes me uncomfortable thus my asking permission for what I’m clearly going to do anyway. For fuck’s sake!) I’ve written on the Internet for over a decade. I’ve published two books that have collectively sold hundreds of thousands of copies. I’ve coined a term, “microjoys,” that is now used in everyday vernacular by folks much more brilliant than I am (and Good Housekeeping magazine writers like it, too.) For work, I share my own ideas from stages in front of thousands of people. I create content and share it on social media almost daily. And yet. I couldn’t simply allow myself to start writing when it came to doing so in a place that felt more permanent, less fleeting, than an Instagram post.
So why did it have to take this long to get here? Why did I have to go through the emotional gymnastics, the “what’s the point?” spirals, the “should I even do this?” fuckery?
Because, like so many of us, I got caught in the web of overthinking, the endless loop of “who cares what I think?” And if I’m being most honest, I was scared. Scared that after all I’ve done so far—the books, the stages, the term I coined that took on a life of its own—that maybe, just maybe, this blog wouldn’t measure up. (“Measure up to what?” you might ask. Good question. Because I have no idea either.) C’mon, how shitty is that?
“You don’t need to be perfect; you need to be brave. Too many stories stay untold because we’re waiting for the perfect conditions to share them…”
—Ava DuVernay, Time’s Most Influential People Speech, 2017
Here’s the thing: perfection is an illusion. And while we’re chasing it, waiting for the “perfect” timing, the most refined version or the right words, life keeps on moving. The ideas? They don’t wait around forever. The inspiration? It doesn’t linger. It whispers urgency, daring us to act and make it real, lest it pass us by.
So here I am, starting because I’d rather create something authentic than wait around for something “perfectly executed”— because that time may never come.
And here’s my inquiry for you: what would happen if you let go of the unnecessary overthinking, the need for everything to be 100% and perfectly executed every.fucking.time? What if you just did the thing and figured it out—the writing, the art, or the idea you’ve been mulling over for way too long?
Because in the end, it’s not about having the right headline or waiting for every piece to be perfectly aligned. It’s about starting, showing up, and trusting that everything you do is an evolution and what you bring is more than enough.
So, here’s to all of us doing the thing, whatever it is—honest, authentic, and gorgeously imperfect.
Some posts will feature “One Fine Microjoy” – an experience, place, or thing that brings me joy, grace, and hope amidst life’s ups and downs. I hope it invites you to recognize and appreciate the delights that ground, inspire, and enrich our journey.
Let’s discuss these Dansko clogs: the ultimate leap from “fashion over function” to “fashion and function.” There’s a special kind of swagger in wearing shoes that say both “I’m cool as fuck” and “I might steal your Werther’s Original” (it’s a vibe, trust me). These let me walk around all day without sacrificing style. They pair brilliantly with low slung barrel-shaped pants, and a gorgeously oversized cashmere sweater. (Ira just bought me this one for my upcoming birthday. But I’ve digressed. Again.) And yes, choosing comfort is downright rebellious—it’s the freedom to walk like you mean it, and prove once and for all —that sensible can also be very chic.
With love, wisdom [and small mercies] from Montclair. xx
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