Perfection is Imperfection

Madeline Dow

Writing for Strategic Comm.

Blog #2

Perfection is Imperfection

            Although I don't generally discuss this topic openly, I feel an overwhelming desire to share my own wisdom and opinions about the idea of perfection. Lately I have been exposed to numerous posts and conversations regarding fixing or "perfecting" ourselves. I have encountered many friends, peers, and celebrities constantly discussing their need to lose weight, exercise more, eat less, tan more- ultimately trying to repair their dissatisfactions with themselves.

            While I am guilty of participating in all of these things, I have learned the hard way that these superficial desires do not result in happiness and do not result in perfection. While I shrunk away, I thought that I would finally be satisfied with my life and with myself, but i was completely wrong. Although I lost weight, I also lost track of my goals, friends, family, integrity, and mostly I lost Madeline. I know now that none of if was worth it. What I know now is that perfection and happiness come from acceptance.

            It's so exhausting to constantly criticize yourself, now I think, "how amazing does it feel to learn to love my imperfections?" Although many will not fall down my dangerous path, I want to tell everyone that trying to make small (or large) changes to your external self can turn into a major problem. It would be a dream for us all to stop criticizing ourselves and each other. I have learned to be kind to others, and especially myself.

            Please be cautious of your words to or about others and yourself because it can create a very unattractive individual. In my opinion, the most beautiful people I know do not focus only on their external appearance, but they show compassion and kindness to all. We must make ourselves beautiful by much more than appearance. Lastly, I hope everyone can find acceptance in their imperfections, and not let them rob you of all of the beauty and love you can give to the world.

All my Love,

Madeline Dow
Then and Now...

Blog #2

Kaitlyn Petrando

Amiso George

Blog #2

April 3, 2014

Work out. Get big. Pump Iron. Get Swole. They all mean the same thing: dying. Dying an extremely long, hot, sweaty, blistery, swollen, death. To most normal people (including myself) this sounds like an extremely miserable process. And then there are those that I like to call the “toothpicks.” You know the ones, they get on the treadmill with a head to toe lulu lemon outfit, run 10 miles, and hop off without a bead of sweat or a misplaced hair. I’m going to be one of them one day.

Thus far on my “trek to toothpick,” as I like to call it, I’ve learned multiple things. Lesson number one: look at yourself enough in the mirror before you go so that you’re not “that girl” checking herself out in front of the free weights. Lesson number two: never wear makeup at the gym, when you start crying on the stair master and mascara is streaming down your face, everyone knows you were crying and not sweating. Lesson number three: use as many bobby pins as it takes to keep every stray hair in place. Lesson number four: create a playlist on your phone strictly for working out otherwise when you and your ex-boyfriend’s song comes on while bench-pressing you’re not in for a minor skull crush. Lesson number five (this is an important one): at no point in time, and I mean NO point in time, is it appropriate to take a selfie while flexing in the mirror at the gym. Never. Nope. I know it’s tempting, but trust me on this one because I learned it the hard way.

On top of my “trek to toothpick” lessons, I’ve also picked up a few pro tips to becoming the next Arnold Schwarzenegger. How-you may ask? I met him. That’s right, I met him. Arnold and I became real close when I was in LA for vacation a few years ago. My friend dragged my lazy butt to the gym and somewhere between mile 3 and 5 when I was puking near the side of the track, none other than good ole Arnie (that’s what I call him now) stopped to hold back my hair (this is where the bobby pin lesson was learned.) Anyway, that whole story was a lie. But I did see his movie “Pumping Iron” and that’s where I learned these next few tips: 1. Don’t do steroids. 2. If you do steroids, always wear a Speedo to lift. 3. Men are so much more attractive with accents.

Tune in next week when I’ll be sharing my thoughts on group activities at the gym. Until then, stay fit, my friends.

Just Be

Kaitlin Kramer

April 3, 2014

If there is one thing college has taught me, it is that I can become overly stressed way too easily. Can you relate? Often times the littlest thing has the potential to send my world crashing down in a heartbeat, and no thing should ever have that much affect on a person. It’s just not healthy. So I have come to a conclusion, and that is to take at least 30 minutes out of my day to spend alone, doing nothing that requires much effort physically or mentally and just be. Wow, that’s a foreign concept right?
            One thing I have learned about people in general is that everybody is just too busy. We load task after task upon each other, leaving little time for ourselves. I think it is crucial to allow time during the day to be spent just relaxing, and satisfied with the moment. There is so much hustle and bustle in life today and it is just plain sad that the simple moments in life, the ones that don’t require anything of anyone besides to put the phone down, and turn off the TV, are rarely well spent. Gosh, I bet most people would just laugh and shake their head at the person who said, “stop and smell the roses.” Who has time for that anyway.

The weather in the past two days has been absolutely beautiful. The wind, a little intense, but that’s just expected. So I have been fully taking advantage of it! My minimum of 30 minutes spent on myself has been taking walks through the neighborhoods surrounding the campus. I throw on my tennis shoes and head out the door with no destination in mind. There is something about walking aimlessly that is so freeing and relaxing. I love looking at all the homes in the neighborhoods. They are each so unique and interesting to look at, and what a shame it is that most of the time we just drive by them so quickly because we are in a hurry or late for something. But on my walks, I notice them. I study them.

Going on walks, admiring nature, allowing myself to get away from the busyness of my day is how I maintain a stress-free life. It’s fun, takes no money and is good for the mind, body and soul. If I could encourage any college student, or anyone really, I would encourage the importance of taking time out of each day to just be.