March 1, 2024 The Word of the Week (W.O.W.!) "Perfection" I wish I could unload a whole dump-truck, but that won’t sit still with mature women (we don’t sit too long without bathroom breaks!). Just saying …. I lived most of my life focused on being (or trying to be) PERFECT. My reasoning was, “If I am “perfect,” then, and only, then, I’ll get the approval and not be attacked.” Over the years, I have laid awake at night beating myself up… hour after hour… the voices in my head: Maybe “I should have said this that way …” Maybe “I embarrassed my husband by laughing too loud or having too much fun…” Maybe “I reacted to their perceived attack instead of lovingly responding to him / her I’d really like to believe that I’m not the ONLY one who lays awake at night and second-guesses or beats myself up (you don’t have to confess) … Just recently, I’m reading (again) another book by Richard Rohr called “Falling Upward”. To be truthful, I much prefer and accolade his book called, “The Divine Dance” (read it recently for the second time!). Regardless, below is a quote from his book; “Falling Upward” that resonates throughout this season of maturity: With reference to the maturity (us growing older in life), he, Richard Rohr states … “It feels like a return to SIMPLICITY after having learned from all the complexity in life… If you have not forgiven yourself for being imperfect and falling, you cannot do it for just about everybody else. If you have not done it for yourself, I am afraid you will likely pass on your sadness, absurdity, judgment, and futility to others… therein is the tragic path of many elderly people.” My God, my God … may we LOVE … just dispense LOVE (God) to all others…