Aging with Grace

If I waited for perfection, I would never write a word.

Margaret Atwood

I just finished reading, The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. I read it because I decided I should understand the true significance of women protesting in red capes and white bonnets. I can tell you that I feel fortunate Ms. Atwood did write several novels, books of poetry and children’s books, as well as her many other accomplishments. 

When I came across the quote at the top of this page, I smiled. As it relates to my writing, perfection is the least of my goals. I would just like to publish my posts without typos. A good friend and extraordinary advocate of my writing is, among her many talents, an amazing proof reader. I, on the other hand, have the astounding ability to read something over ten times and still miss a mistake. 

I sometimes think, my inability to catch errors in my posts, until it’s too late, is meant to be a lesson in humility. I tend to want things to be perfect and I am my own worst critic. Circling back to, The Handmaid’s Tale, women have always been held to impossibly high standards. We are expected to be the perfect daughter, wife, mother, and while we are at it have a career and a beautiful home. It doesn’t hurt to have great hair, make up and wear a size four. We, probably, need to lay that burden down and just be what is important to us. That wisdom comes with age, maybe.