Lovely print by Hairbrained Schemes.
The blogosphere can be a strange place. Inspiring, wonderful and a little bit magical, but strange nonetheless. Danielle and Kaelah recently wrote great posts about the way bloggers present their lives online. About how we highlight the postives and skim over the negatives and in doing so, create an illusion of perfection. This is something I think about a lot.
Occasionally we receive comments from lovely people saying how idyllic our life is. We craft, we op-shop, we take pretty pictures and we drink big mugs of coffee while cuddling cats. It all sounds very peachy perfect but, while all of this is certainly true, it’s not the whole of our reality. We also go to work. We leave the dishes in the sink far too long and get ants in our kitchen. Our ancient bathroom gets mouldy within 5 minutes of us cleaning it. We worry about money. We get cranky at each other. Our cats throw up on our furniture. Our washing gets forgotten and sits in the machine for three days. We eat toast for dinner.
Even though I know that most bloggers only present a small section of their worlds on their blogs, occasionally I too have gotten caught up in it all and found myself lamenting how “perfect” other bloggers’ lives seem. I’ve thought “If only we didn’t have to spend so many hours in our day jobs, if only we had more money, if only our house wasn’t so run down, if only I had her wardrobe, if only I had more time to cook and craft, then life would be perfect”. But of course, it wouldn’t be. Because real life is never perfect. Not for us, or for anyone else. And I have to remind myself that actually, that’s ok. Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be wonderful.
It’s so easy to get sucked into an imaginary world of immaculately curated outfits, Pinterest-perfect decorated homes and meals that look straight out of the pages of fancy recipe books, but when we are consumed with obtaining the illusion of perfection, we are missing all the perfectly imperfect bits of right now.
Right now our sink is full of dirty dishes, our floors need vacuuming, my phone bill is overdue and my hair needs washing, but in the same breath, we have just eaten a yummy (and totally unfancy) dinner, Reuben is crocheting beside me and a kitten smooching against me. We are listening to nice music and a summery breeze is whispering through our little house. This is real life in all its’ perfectly imperfect glory. And it is pretty wonderful.
What’s perfectly imperfect in your world right now?
thanks so much for this very wise and beautifully written post. it’s a good thing to be reminded of.
This is way i love your blog! I think about this myself, im very concious about it. I want my blog to be a happy place. Sou i post small things that is good in my life. I try to not get stressed by all the perfected side of internett life and now i apprisiate the inspiration and thinks to my self that everyone got som problems. Im glad you post about the cozy things in your life, because its inspiering.
And long live ants in the kitchen and other everyday problems.
our phone bill is almost ALWAYS overdue, and we struggle to pay rent. we mainly shop at op shops IF we buy anything new and we both get paid way too little for what we do at work. we rent, we will likely never own, unless its with a giant mortgage, and we both get pimples… eeek. you guys are the best xo. cant wait to catch up in person in december.
oh i agree! i keep getting jealous of people who work at their crafts full time and don’t have to have day jobs! i think our home is pretty cute… but we also have damp and mould… often with blogging though, i think it’s nice for the person blogging to just put all the good stuff on their blog so they can be concious of and reminded of the good things in their life.x
Oh, I get jealous of people who get to do crafty things all day too! But we must remember, they have their own struggles and ups and downs, just like us. We are all human! And yes, it is really nice to use blogging to focus on the positives and express gratitude for all the good in our lives – that’s exactly why we do what we do here!
I am new to the whole blogging world-and although I love to see the pretty pictures and stories of mini adventures…its great to see the posts where people just take a picture of a big messy room-it makes me think-goodoo! it’s not just me!… I do however struggle when I am writing honestly about goings on-I don’t want to come across as a moaning minnie…even though writing a blog was meant for me to say what I really mean…oh its a tricky business!
I do love your blog though–I am looking forward to seeing what a summer time Christmas looks like! *being from the other side of the globe and all*
Great post! I catch myself getting caught up in comparing myself to other in their blogs… they seem so happy and successful and have nice clothes and wonderful relationships and nice houses and spend their time wisely… but reality is way more imperfect than what people present. the things that are perfectly imperfect for me are: my house doesn’t always smell great. Usually ends up smelling like animals (I have 3!); I get completely freaked out that I am getting a roommate; I am the worst at budgeting my money and always seem to be broke. However, I have a wonderful boyfriend who likes hanging out with me and doesn’t judge my poorness. My animals keep me warm with cuddles and kisses and I love my little house. It’s not much, but it’s mine. =)
oh, Katie, it is so True!!! i was just thinking about all the “what if”s today! Really it is so easy to get caught up on this run to perfection and stop enjoying the real things we have and what we are.. I love that you and Reuben are real people just like us
Have an amazing Sunday!
There’s something about the “perfectness” of some bloggers that really inspires me. These seemingly flawless women remind me that I can be better…I can try harder, reach for my dreams more ferociously, and put more effort into infusing beauty into my world. My office is a mess and I’m contemplating letting that dirty hair stay dirty one more day, but I’ve learned from bloggers that sometimes it’s worth it to put a little more effort into having a better life. <3
Hi Chelle! Like you, I think it’s really, really important to strive for your dreams and give life your all. I find other people doing that really inspiring and I try to live my life that way too. But I also think it’s just as important to savour the current moment and appreciate all that we have already. We are always journeying towards a better life, which is awesome, but I think true happiness comes from learning to find the beauty in the imperfections of right now as well
Now there I was thinking you lived the ” perfect ,idyllic life”…oh I am sorely dissillusioned…lol,lol,lol,lol
What more can be more Perfectly Imperfect than this…….
“”Right now our sink is full of dirty dishes, our floors need vacuuming, my phone bill is overdue and my hair needs washing, but in the same breath, we have just eaten a yummy (and totally unfancy) dinner, Reuben is crocheting beside me and a kitten smooching against me. We are listening to nice music and a summery breeze is whispering through our little house. This is real life in all its’ perfectly imperfect glory. And it is pretty wonderful.”"
Today in a Charity Shop (Op Shop ) I bought a fancy electrical ice cream maker for £7.50 (not sure what that is in foreign) The price new is £50….I adore ice cream and have long wanted a machine, now all I need are some recipes…happy day one and all
I really love this post. You said it exactly right. I love the imperfections in life because when they blend together with the amazingly wonderful moments, it’s like life is complete. Right now the house is a mess, but my husband and our two boys are lounging around me, content.
Thanks Jodi! I don’t think we can truly appreciate the wonderful bits without having less wonderful bits to compare them to…
Thanks for sharing my print, Katie. I like stories of imperfection, they make me feel more human! Lovely post
My pleasure Cheryl!
I love this post! Nobody could’ve said it better.
And what a lovely quote. ♥
As I read this, I find myself nodding yes to everything you are saying. I think it is a great reminder that we are not anymore perfect or better than the next person, despite wealth, education, etc. I love reading my fave bloggers’ insights to what they choose to share but every once in awhile it’s nice to see their humanity like the rest of us. Great post!
I love this post, because it;s so true!
Thanks for sharing this 
The blog view… Outside the fall air has a nip but the skies are bright blue, making a lovely backdrop for the fall leaves, a hard frost has etched little crystalline patterns in every leaf and blade of grass. Inside the house is filled with the lingering aroma of home made Spanakopita and baklava, all that remains of a dinner shared with family and friends…
The full view… I have gotten to see twilight, midnight, the pre-dawn and sunrise as I stand outside in the cold with our dog who isn’t feeling too well. I’m not feeling so great myself.The kitchen is waiting to be reclaimed after last nights dinner party, wine glasses are strewn through the house and cloth napkins that need to be treated for stains are heaped in a pile next to a mountain of dishes. The baby who was visiting with his parents overturned and uprooted my 30 year old ponytail palm, dirt from the pot somehow made it onto my new carpet in the back of the house…
I think pulling out the “perfect” moments, savoring and sharing them, helps to make it easier to deal with the less than perfect. Eventually the kitchen will be set to rights, the palm replanted, the carpet cleaned… but in the mean time I will put blinders on to the mess and enjoy the memories of time spent with those that I love.
What you and Reuben do is valuable.You share vignettes of your life, to inspire and remind us to be grateful for the simple things. I don’t get the impression you are trying to portray your lives as perfect, but that you are taking time to rejoice in the moments that are. Thank you for sharing your happy thoughts with us!
I am totally, 100%, completely for savouring the happy moments and celebrating the good stuff! That’s exactly what we do on our blog and documenting these sunshiney things has made us even more grateful for all the good in our lives. I just think sometimes we all need a gentle reminder that it’s ok for things to be imperfect. No one’s life is perfect all the time but life is quite wonderful, messy bits and all.
I feel so completely the same way! It’s nice to hear an “honest” post every once in a while, too, to realize that you are on the same page as everyone else. I love reading your blog, as it does seem so perfectly real, rather than a perfect fake.
Keep writing posts like this, it’s great to read!
Jenni from Tales From Bottomley Cottage
I am SO happy and relieved that you wrote this post, what a gift from God it is! I am a new blogger and have almost quit several times (you outta check out my post from Tuesday if you have time! LOL)–because of all the “competition”. I can’t sew, I can cook but I am crappy at taking pictures of the process. I have my own unique style but could care less where my clothes are from, so I’m not into posting pics with where my clothes are from or whatever. It’s difficult in the non blogging world with struggle with these feelings you talk about here, but even more so in the blogging community I think b/c online it is more of a mystery. ANYway I was cracking up about your cats throwing up on your carpet, LMAO.
I mean I seriously thought of quitting my blog this week because of this very thing, not so much perfection, but that I can’t compare or measure up to any of these women online and I have nothing to offer. So that is where I’ve been struggling.
Thanks again for the encouraging post and being real.
You’re a blessing!
YES. I’m so glad your bathroom gets mouldy 5 minutes after being cleaned too…Our apartment is just mouldy. le sigh.
You forget the washing and leave it in the machine for days!? PRAISE! I’m not the only one!
You’ve made my day. ^_~
All the time! We have been known to have to wash the same load of laundry 3 times because we’ve kept forgetting it!
I am an unusual blogger, as I post the ugly truth of the day – the tears, the fears, the laughs and the crafts. I always had a promise with myself that ultimately my blog is for me and I wanted an accurate account of my life – something to look back on and remember the true events. I’m not a ‘sanctimommy’ – I’ve made mistakes, my kids mess up and my husband can be annoying… because that’s how life works. It doesn’t mean I love them any less… on the contrary – I love them enough to preserve the truth.
If Hobbit throws a fit to such a degree that we both end up in tears and does poorly in school, I tell it like it is. If Hobbit does sweet things for others and has a glorious moment in school, I tell it like it is. It’s my life – it’s my story… worts and all… lol.
I love your reply and I completely agree with you.
I love your attitude to blogging Amy! I think it’s really important to stay true to yourself and you do that so well. Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you for this post! While I love reading many different blogs, it frustrates me no end how sunshiney the bloggers tend to make everything. My blog is more of a diary and a whole lot less poetic – actually, probably quite boring!
I really love this. And to answer your question:
getting real is fun!
I am unemployed (but this provides me with a lot of time for personal development and doing the things I love), I am pretty much broke (but this challenges me to MAKE things myself), a bomb has exploded in our home (but it feels nice to not do a thing about it) and I have a pimple outbreak on my face (okay nothing positive about this)…
♡
I love this!!
It’s so true. It’s *so* easy to feel inferior in the land of ‘perfect’ blogs…I always have to remind myself that probably right next to the photo of the pretty decorated living room is a pile of stuff that was moved out of the way, or something…cuz we’re all human (and that’s usualy what I do…lol)! My house looks like a tornado tore through it, and I can ignore it for one more day and snuggle on the couch, if I want to. That’s the good stuff. I wish more bloggers would talk about this – all the messy behind-the-scenes stuff, so we can be reminded that they’re human, too. he he. You’re lovely!
Just a perfect post Katie. I try to be true to myself and show my vulnerabilities which lets everyone know that it’s all about my imperfections that makes me human and which I wholeheartedly embrace xox
Cute post Katie, i agree, i always feel like this reading A Beautiful Mess. hahaha. My dream store! but then when I think about it I wouldn’t really want to own my own store and deal with the stress of everything anyway. Online stuff is more than enough trouble.
x
Having your own business isn’t always as fun as it looks, and actually working for someone else as well isn’t either, it’s hard. But I don’t think I’d change anything!
I am thankfully for my wardrobe though, sometimes it’s the thing I look forward to most on a very boring day, that and the fur babies
Kel, if I had your wardrobe I’d look forward to getting dressed too! I get excited just looking at your outfit posts! (Is that sad? Haha..)
And I totally hear you about A Beautiful Mess. The Red Velvet Store is my dream come true as well! xo
Oh Katie, you have hit the nail right on the head there. Every word is written with so much truth behind it. My life at the moment is probably at it’s most imperfectly perfect. We’ve just moved into a new flat and (finally) have our own space but it’s so old and run down that we’re so thankful it’s not forever. I love my job working with people I have so much fun with but it’s only a temporary contract and it will come to an end in February. We live in the most gorgeous country, near my family and friends but the future for this country looks very bleak financially. Everything has it’s pros and cons, ups and downs but ultimately we must think about the silver lining.
Thanks for this hugely inspirational post!
Maria xx
http://www.cheekypinktulip.blogspot.com
Such a great post! And so true
I present only things I find positive on my blog because it’s a value I hold dear to focus on the good and appreciate even the smallest blessings. I don’t dwell on the bad for more than a minute (or 140 characters!!). But I never thought how it might look from the outside. And thought I intend on keeping up with my positive tone, this post makes me reflect on blogging!
Virginie ♥
I couldn’t agree more. Of course, as a blogger, when I do post personal photos I make sure they’re the best but that’s not my life 24/7. This is a great reminder that life, as normal as it seems to some, is so amazing – if only we could just see it. Thanks for the inspiration!
Kristina Gulino
Something 2 Write About
i LOVE your blog. i love that you’re YOUNG and you already “get it”. i love that you seem to find fun and happiness in all of the “little” things. i love it that reuben is into all of it too. yeah, life gets busy and messy and dark sometimes, but i love that you seem to find the simple sunshine in everyday moments. it’s so important. and so refreshing.
Hey! I found this post through Twitter and I can I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate this post. What you said is completely true, and as someone new to this big blogging-sphere, it’s a good thing to hear.
I have been blogging for the most of the past 6 years and mostly for myself- just for the sake of keeping track of my projects and not so much for my audience. I have used 2011 as a springboard to expand my blogging horizons, and have definitely been caught up in these “perfect” blogs and bloggers.
Thank you for being a voice of reason. I think I can look at my blogging in a more positive way from this holiday season on.
I hope you have a super excellent Thanksgiving!!
[waves]
Although I’m late, I just wanted to say that I am so embracing life not being perfect at the moment.
I’ve been on placement for uni, which means no pay, and longer hours as I need to write up everything I did that day. So, my house needs to be cleaned, my sheets need to be changed, and there is a pile of dishes in the sink. As well as the assignment, it’s my last day today (so I’m up late baking) and my birthday tomorrow (so I’ll be up late baking again).
I’m going to embrace my last day and my birthday totally, and worry about the other stuff on Sunday. I don’t have plans with anyone, so I’m going to get the paper, and get down to working hard, with breaks to read the paper. I think that will be awesome too.
Good on you both for being honest. You’re right, it can be really disheartening for people to think that everyone else is living a perfect life. Really, no-one is, but all we can do is the best we can do. And that can be awesome.
I just “found” your blog through a link at Amylou’s! So glad I clicked and came over, what a wonderful post and so true! I try to be real on my blog and also write about negative things, feelings etc….which makes me feel weird sometimes, because most bloggers lives are so “perfect”!
Thanks for writing this!
Hugs,
Chrissy xxx
i’m horribly behind on blog reading and just got around to reading this. it’s so lovely and what i think almost all of the time. i’ve been hiding away from the internet lately because of it!
thanks for saying these things!
xoxox
k
YES! So funny, whenever I take photos for my blog I have to spend half an hour clearing away all the mess on the table, and I have to be very crafty with what angle I shoot from so you can’t see our rented flats horrible blinds! I don’t even bother taking photos in the kitchen, cleaning that up to be ‘blog friendly’ would be impossible!
Well said!
Oh, what a perfectly beautiful piece on…imperfection!
I just love your blog. A friend of mine knew that I would be so smitten with you guys, and she was absolutely right! Your honesty in this piece is so reassuring. We live in a very surreal world at the moment, and any honesty, insight, inspiration, joy, comfort and/or “realness” is so appreciated. We are all human…we all share the same struggles…we all yearn for the same: peace, creativity, happiness, partnership, feeling the magic of being. But due to being human, these feelings come and go…this reality comes and goes, and we have to continually choose to seek out that which we love. It’s sort of a life long endeavor. And SO VERY WORTH IT! So keep going, you two. I will be 48 years old next month, and I am so inspired by your commitment to one another, to the sweetness of your lives, and to your quest for authenticity. What better name for your blog than “House of Humble?” Humbleness is a beautiful characteristic, and at this particular moment in time, I find it to be truly extraordinary and rare. So on that note, keep being the beautiful beings that you are. You make a whole lot of folks smile…including me!
Cheers! From sunny Santa Barbara where we live perfectly imperfect lives by the sea.
Happy Humble New Year!