Issue No. 76

Imagine standing at the edge of a vast field, and in the far distance, you see a shining beacon, glowing with all your aspirations and dreams. That beacon is perfection, always within sight but never quite within reach. It’s tempting to run toward it, to believe that if you just try hard enough, you’ll finally arrive. But perhaps, that’s not the point.

Think about a painter standing in front of a blank canvas. Each stroke isn’t just about getting closer to a flawless image but about expressing something deeper within themselves. The colors might blend imperfectly, and lines may stray, but with each brushstroke, the painter discovers a bit more about who they are and what they’re capable of. The masterpiece isn’t the final image; it’s the courage to keep painting, even when things don’t turn out as planned.

In my own life, I’ve often wrestled with the idea of being perfect. I’ve felt the pressure to always say the right thing, make the right choice, and avoid any hint of failure. If I make a slight disturbance in my environment or schedule, that means everything is ruined. But every time I’ve tried to control everything, I’ve felt the weight of that pursuit crushing down on me. It was only when I let go of the need to be perfect that I found something far more valuable: the freedom to be myself. When I made mistakes, I learned. When I fell, I discovered the strength to get back up. These moments were more valuable than any perfect achievement because they were real. They were mine.

Think about the people who inspire you. Is it their flawlessness that draws you in? Or is it the way they face challenges, stumble, and still choose to stand back up? Perfection isn’t about having no cracks; it’s about allowing the light to shine through those cracks, revealing the beauty within. It’s about showing up every day with all your imperfections, fears, and doubts, and still saying, "I’m here. I’m trying."

A good friend once told me, “Life isn’t about reaching the end without any scars; it’s about collecting as many stories as you can along the way.” And that’s what makes the journey so beautiful. The more we chase after perfection, the more we realize it’s not the destination that matters, but the journey itself. It’s in the late nights spent working on a project, not because you have to, but because you want to see how far you can go. It’s in the conversations with loved ones, where you share your fears, dreams, and everything in between, knowing that they see you for who you are, not who you’re trying to be. It’s in seeing through the hearts and minds of the people you care about and accepting who they are and what they can become. It’s in letting go of the past and facing what the future can offer without the expectation of total control.

The beauty of life lies in the pursuit, in the steps we take, no matter how wobbly or uncertain. Perfection might be that distant beacon, but as we walk toward it, we discover something even more precious: the strength to keep moving forward, the courage to embrace every flaw, and the grace to become who we were always meant to be.

And maybe, just maybe, that's where true perfection lies—not in the arrival, but in the endless, fearless pursuit.

I’ll end this with one of the most beautiful lines I have ever heard on cinema from the movie Passengers (2016):

You can't get so hung up on where you'd rather be that you forget to make the most of where you are. Every cloud has a silver lining. You're not where you want to be. You feel like you're supposed to be somewhere else. Well, say you could snap your fingers and be wherever you wanted to be. I bet you'd still feel this way. Not in the right place. Point is, you can't get so hung up on where you'd rather be that you forget to make the most of where you are. Take a break from worrying what you can't control. Live a little.

P.S. A little late issue release as I was coming from a long vacation. But my motivation is renewed. Let’s move forward.

Until next week,