Chasing Perfection

Why do we chase things 
That don’t exist
Rather than embracing 
Our true selves
In all our messiness, 
And beauty

Are we not already perfect

Like a rose that smiles at the sun
Does it fret about its petals
Thorns and leaves
Or does it sway in the breeze, 
Knowing it is a part of life 
As it was meant to be?

Why do we seek love 
Where it cannot be found
Buy things that we do not need
Climb career ladders 
That take us to nowhere
But stress and sadness

What about the sea turtle 
Who swims through the salty sea
Does it not know its own majesty
Isn’t it aware of its happy place in the 
Universe of things

Does it not view the rainbow fish
Darting around its shell and belly
With admiration rather than envy

Why do we compare 
Ourselves with others
Knowing full well
This always makes us feel 
Less than who we are 
And the love that we deserve

That we all belong
That we’re all connected 
To one another
And the earth

Why do we look so harshly 
Upon every action we take
Telling ourselves the next will be better
When each action was as perfect 
As we could muster for then

As brave as our bodies and minds 
Would allow for now
Heaving beneath the weight 
Of all that the world 
Piles upon us 
Hour after hour
Day after day
Year after year

Why don’t we instead 
Learn from the trees
Who don’t judge 
The straightness of their trunks 
The smoothness of their leaves
The brightness of their flowers 
Nor sweetness of their fruits

Their bark is rough, 
Their branches break, 
Their leaves fly everywhere
Their fruit splatters over
Pavements and pastures
But their worth is not measured by this

Why don’t we smell the red ros 
Swim with the green sea turtle
Hug the great dark trunk 
Of an enormous tree
Knowing full well 
That we are perfect
Just the way we are