“Imperfection is beauty.” Ask anyone close to me and they’ll tell you, it’s one of my catchphrases. It is my personal way of combating my instinctual need to make everything perfect, everything up to par by societal standards.

See, we live in a world of impossible concepts. Concepts of normal, perfect and beautiful. Impossible and unachievable (at least by healthy/legal means) concepts set by unrealistic even technologically altered standards. These concepts and ideals are driving forces behind societal norms and trends, encouraging a wild goose chase through life. So we are left with a choice, spend life unsatisfied with our abilities or to challenge the standards that are set for us.

There is a counterargument which requires reflection here. Eliminating impossible standards reduces the ambition/drive to improve and move forward. This argument holds merit in many channels of life, knowledge, careers, health. However, this argument becomes destructive in many others –– i.e. physical appearance, emotional wellbeing, monetary class, relationships. By focusing on the flaws and gaps in these channels of life, we fail to recognize the beauty, success, even joy that does exist in these channels.

I truly believe that perfection is an unachievable standard set to promote forward motion. But I also firmly believe that spending life striving for perfection eliminates our ability to find joy and personality in life. I say “imperfection is beauty,” in order to reimagine the way I portray something. I say “imperfection is beauty,” to focus on the beauty, the positive rather than the gaps and imperfections in life. I say “imperfection is beauty,” in order to keep positivity in my life. But perhaps my favorite reason to say “imperfection is beauty,” is to acknowledge the flaws that make things mine.

Each individual’s set of fingerprints, handwriting, spiritual beliefs, relationship with their parents, annoying habits, and precious talents are just that, individual. We are diverse, different, unique. By taking time to embrace our gaps, our imperfections, we begin to acknowledge the differences that make us great. We all strive for perfection, a common reality, but if we each were to achieve that perfection, everything that made us unique, everything that made us, us, would disappear. The innovation in life, the individual with a novel idea or accidental discovery would disappear with the presence of perfection, and so vanishes any and all advancement in life — no iPhone 7, no flying cars, no world peace, just the continuation of the present.

It may seem silly, it may seem extreme but I refuse to embrace perfection. Instead I choose to live by “imperfection is beauty.” I choose to live life acknowledging the imperfections that allow me to learn, grow, smile, focus on the big picture rather than the small details and embrace both the good and the bad. I am imperfect, but imperfection is beauty, so come what may.