a thought, or two...

Hi everyone! I actually have something interesting to blog about, a reflection on this article:

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/15/feminist_obsessed_with_mormon_blogs

I think it's a pretty cool article, mostly positive. However, the comments on this article aren't, they kind of break my heart to read. Commentators are saying, "if their lives look to good to be true, it isn't" and "they are under so much pressure to be perfect all the time because of their church". To this I say: Happiness, it's not too good to be true. Second, I personally feel no pressure to be perfect from the church {or anyone for that matter}.

We live in a time when a woman can be literally anything she wants to be. A career woman, a stay at home mom, or a mix of the two. For those women who are blogging about their stay at home mom lives, staying at home is their job. They create structured activities with their kids, have a craft here or there, and try out new recipes just as any other job has tasks that fill the day. The only difference is that being creative and playing with your kids {and being happy while doing it} is not accepted as a job, but just the opposite: free time.

Yes, of course we are going to blog about mostly the good things in our lives. Not as an attempt to come off as having a picture perfect family, but because these are the things we want to remember. The things we want to reflect on during the bad times as a reminder of happiness. I use my blog as a journal, like many others. I like to look back at things from the very beginning of our marriage because so much has already changed. We like to share things that happen with our family and friends that we don't live close to. Heck, we just like to share!

The pressure and journey to be perfect is not something that is projected from an environment such as family or a religion, but an ever continuing pressure that is inflicted by one's self. It is human nature to constantly compare yourself to others. Am I pretty? Is she prettier than me? How can I be prettier? It's not self absorbed, it's just a natural thought and a strive to improve. {not just looks, education, skills, hobbies, etc.} This is why we get frustrated when we can't knock down 10 pins in bowling, why we haven't gotten a promotion, and our cookies come out burnt every time. WE want to be perfect, to be good at something, and to constantly improve. This is done for ourselves, for our own self-esteem in daily life.

On a religious view of the meaning "perfect", again, there is no pressure from my religion. The Church encourages the reassurance that it is OK not to be perfect. Christ's life isn't meant to be a constant reminder of how we aren't, but as a goal. I find it comforting that there is only one perfect person in this world, and therefor no one should expect me to be perfect. Everyone else other than Christ, {yes everyone, even me and even you!} has flaws. I feel better when I say, "I know I'm doing something wrong, and I know it is wrong, and I don't want to be this way forever. I'm working on it." and my friends, family, and Church understand. Everyone has things they are trying to work on, and we can accept that. No you're not perfect, no I'm not perfect, but we are working on it.

I know this is a jumble of thoughts and a process of me working through my emotions, but I just want you to know, I don't expect anyone to be perfect. Some people I know, do appear to be perfect. My hats are off to you guys {you know how you are!}. I am not trying to give any illusion that I am perfect or that my life is perfect. I have bad days, I have good days. But I want to always remember the good days. I want to try to improve myself. Don't you?