I like to tell people that I don’t hang around with perfect people because they make me uncomfortable. I usually say it in such a way that I get a laugh. Ha ha ha.

Nobody’s perfect, right? 

Except those of us pretending that we are. Acting like we have life all figured out. All under control. Been there, done that. Had the anxiety attacks to prove it.

I read today’s quote as I was searching for something on compassion, but what caught my eye were the two words “imperfect relationships.” As if there are any perfect relationships! Perfect relationships require perfect people — and I don’t know any of those, do you? Oh, sure, I’ve met people who were faking it; I’ve even done some pretending myself. But we’re all struggling in our imperfections and we all bring those imperfections into our relationships with one another. 

And yes, because we are imperfect … because we are broken … we have the opportunity to learn forgiveness and compassion and so may other things in relationship with one another. I believe sometimes imperfections mean we can’t stay in relationship with one another forever and ever, amen. There comes a time for honesty. For safety. For boundaries. And making those kinds of choices doesn’t mean you’re not compassionate or forgiving or loving. It just means you’re recognizing that not all relationships survive.

But that’s another blog post.

In Your Words: How has being in relationship with others taught you compassion and forgiveness? What else has being in relationships with others taught you?

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