Debating perfect – WHY should we expect PERFECTION?
“I don’t want to be remembered for perfection –
I want to be remembered for thought provoking inspiration”
~ Carmel Rowley
In all the years we’ve been associated with breeding Arabian horses it’s never been our aim to breed for ‘perfection’. In fact we don’t believe ‘perfection’ is achievable. Everyone’s interpretation of ‘perfection’ is different so why not strive for excellence rather than the unattainable perfect?
These days the word ‘perfect’ is used far too often in advertising. The constant bombardment reduces this marvellous word to the same ignorable, overused cliché as ‘top quality’ and ‘living art’. The word also implies you should not consider anything that is not perfect. It takes a while to convince people that perfection is in the eye of the beholder. An example is – a so called ‘perfect’ head on a foal, an endearing little creature who has a short very dished profile, lovely eyes, well placed and tilted belled nostrils BUT sitting on top, two enormous ears! Big ears are not something a breeder strives for in an Arabian horse! The foal is obviously a truly excellent individual BUT not perfect!
In book-world a perfect book would have to have an attractive cover and preferably no errors. In a perfect world it sells and makes money at the same time. I don’t believe there’s any such thing as a perfect book but if there is, it should be left up to the most important person — the customer — to decide. I imagine a customers perfect book is simply a book they read and love and that’s the absolute measure for judging the perfection of any product.
Personally, I think there is a very good reason for preventing any of us on this earth from being perfect a perfect example – leaving the ‘be’ out of my image on my Facebook pages – Did you notice?
Below Phillip Humbert states- ‘Very few things in life are perfect because life is always changing’, while the Arabian breeder Howard Kale Jnr – Karho farms – stated on the cover of his booklet – Pieces of Perfection … “The perfect Arabian is an ideal that has not yet existed, even among the most renowned horses of the past. But pieces of perfection do exist, displayed in offspring of those legendary horses whose bloodlines play a dominant role in the finest breeding programs today”
Below Phillip Humbert looks at striving for excellence rather than perfection in our day to day lives. It’s a thought provoking read…
Pursue Excellence, Avoid Perfection
Written & Published by Philip E. Humbert, PhD
Visit our website at: http://www.philiphumbert.com
There are two famous recommendations that I don’t believe in. They are supposed to lead to the “good life” but I don’t think they work. The first is “all things in moderation” and the second is the quest for “perfection.”Regarding moderation, I much prefer the wonderful quote from May West that “too much of a good thing is just right.” What a great attitude!
I deserve LOTS of great things in my life! I deserve all the health, joy, love, great memories, passion and fulfilment I can get! Now, I admit, I have noticed that moderation in some things is a good thing. Moderation in drinking, for instance, seems to reduce hangovers, accidents, addiction, and all sorts of embarrassing moments. Moderating my consumption of chips, dip and beer seems to be a good thing. (Super Bowl Sunday may be an exception – I’m still checking data on that one.) Moderating my spending to match my income seems to be a good thing. But when it comes to the things that make life worth-while, I hate moderation! Why would I settle for a “little” happiness when the world seems designed to fill my life with joy?! Why would I work like a slave, when wealth and fun and freedom and love are all around me? Sure, I work to earn money (and to make my unique contribution), but I’d much rather practice “moderation” in work and “let her rip” when it comes to joy and personal development!
I don’t believe in “moderation in all things.” Be very, very careful about the things you “practice in moderation!”Similarly, trying to make life “perfect” is a trap. Very few things in life are “perfect” because life is always changing. If it was perfect a moment ago, it may already be deteriorating or evolving into something new and better. Perhaps my tastes have changed and I’m no longer satisfied. Very few things in life are “perfect,” and certainly not for very long.More importantly, since we aren’t perfect, very few of the things we do are perfect. There’s a wonderful quote about Howard Hughes that for all his genius and wealth and determination, “he sought a perfection that assured failure.”Don’t do that to yourself! It doesn’t work out well.
Instead, strive for excellence. Strive for a GREAT life, not a perfect one. Trouble happens. Mistakes happen. Bad luck and misfortune, and yes, evil raises its head and tragedy happens, but good things happen, too. Excellence and wisdom, love and joy never go out of style. We never outgrow our desire for celebration, achievement, personal growth and learning. I am totally convinced it is possible to live a World Class Life(tm)! In fact, I believe it is the MINIMUM we should
expect of ourselves. Who would choose to live a mediocre life? Who would choose to develop only part of their potential, to use only some of their talent or a bit of
their creativity? No one would do that! You can and should strive for excellence–for a life that is nothing less than “World Class” in all things.
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