This insight is courtesy of my friend, former roommate and creativity coach, Sarah Sadie, and the realization that if I want a perfect garden I'm going to need to pave over a large part of my yard, invest in some pesticides and herbicides and hire a round-the-clock work crew. The simple truth is there are going to be weeds that grow while I'm looking the other way, or sleeping or busy with other things. There are going to be plants that underperform and pests - like 4-lined plant bugs and japanese beetles - who perform exactly in the way they are supposed to and wreak havoc on a garden.
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| 4-lined plant bug damage on my russian sage. The culprit was caught in the act and dispatched. I may move spiders to a safe location so they can live long and prosper outside of my house, but I do not feel a need to be merciful to 4lpb. |
Sarah taught me during our Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching sessions that perfectionism means we have high expectations of ourselves, are discouraged when things aren't as they "should" be and lose interest in or feign indifference in our projects as a defense against our fear of imperfection.
Perfection is a kind of armor. There's a vulnerability in being imperfect, but also authenticity. A playful attitude can lighten the burden of making a perfect garden, helping us discover the beauty and serendipity that is possible when things don't go as planned and to notice the lovely moments that come to all gardens at some point.
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