Continuing on the theme of type-A personalities from my last post. I guess that means that we want all A’s, right? I am certainly one of those people who WANTS all A’s. I just had a friend share with me about her high school student who has straight A’s. However, her daughter also wants to play sports, act, sing in the school choir and play in the orchestra. So, she is super stressed out because she is getting a B in math. There’s probably a little bit of her in all of us. We want to have it all. This means – the perfect body, the perfect house, the perfect marriage, the perfect kids, the perfect friends…is there such a person?!! I see only three problems with trying to get all A’s in life:

1. It’s impossible.

2. It will drive everyone around you crazy.

3. You yourself will become a mental wreck.

I was not a straight A student. Not in high school. Not in college. Matter of fact, I considered a token B my good luck charm. I earned a B my first year of high school. All A’s and one B. The same with my first year of college – B for ballet. But I really enjoyed that ballet class, even though I was…always late. And in law school I was in the top ten but not at the top. Those B’s I now realize represented something important too.

B was for breaks. I went to bed early. I went running. I went to dances and to eat with my friends. B was for boyfriend (who I later married). B was for baby (my second year of law school). Those B’s were as important as any A’s I ever earned. In my mind, at least. I wasn’t not trying. But I put the brakes on perfection so I could achieve in other areas of my life. I decided that a few dishes in the sink, a less than stellar performance on a paper, were okay. Because B’s are real life.

I am still not a super cook. I whip out some A meals. But plenty of Bs and a fair sprinkling of Cs. I exercise. But only for twenty minutes every other day. I eat pretty healthy. But I allow myself some treats. My house is “healthy clean” but not immaculate. I am a pretty good mom. Except when I’m not. I let my friends down – but we keep texting. And I can drive my husband crazy, but we still plan on being together forever.

So if you are driving yourself and others to the brink of insanity with your relentless desire for perfection in all areas of your life. Relax, pause, take the B. You’ll enjoy it!