I confess to brief, black-and-white descriptions of perfectionists and entrepreneurs in this blog, included for the sake of illustration; and, additionally, I might be cramming round shapes into square holes or vice versa... I also confess to idealism and the justifiable criticism it invites. Maybe I do it for love.
Perfectionists. They strive for an uncanny order and a controlled world. Disorder creates an inordinate and unmanageable "disturbance in the force." They avoid flustering disturbance because why would anyone want to touch a burning hot oven twice? That is the way disorder feels to them. Sometimes, uncannily, perfection can be directed to one narrow area, with all other areas in total disarray.
The overall nature of a true perfectionist differs from a flexible, risk-taking entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs might have perfectionist tendencies, but on their road to success, they generally fail, one or more times, and they try, try again. They seem to be more tolerant of temporary disorder, and they doggedly maneuver through hot stove experiences. They see beyond failure and create work-arounds. And that leads this inquiring mind to wonder:
Can a shapes puzzle encourage a 1-year-young to see beyond failure? To press on? To courageously live?
At the age of 5, if I had never before attempted a basic shapes puzzle, I could have easily aced the challenge. Finding the right hole for the circle, the square, the rectangle, the star, the heart, and the triangle would have been a cinch. But, that would have proven little. I would have missed practicing so many other important character-shaping qualities. Unlimited, intangible other skills are acquired during the process of toddler shapes-fail.
Imagine the varied things a 1-year-young can safely practice and learn when working a shapes puzzle. At that age, learning-to-learn is the invaluable return. Diverse and beneficial by-product skills include:
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Shapes puzzling on the notepad reinforces to an eager 1.5-year-young:
Learn by trusted observation, and try, try again
(The befitting dotted leggings are not a piece of the shapes puzzle)
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- Comfort facing the unknown
- Hard work and willpower
- Failing does not equal failure; try, try again
- Being flexible while cooperating with the shapes system
- Learning through trusted observation
- The intrinsic joy of accomplishment, and,
- The obvious skill of visual recognition and acuity.
And into adulthood? Going to college. Opening that new business venture (if the risk appears worth it). Learning a new skill.
The values of failing and willpower remind me of a harrowing scene in the unusual and primitively-set movie, The Village. A group of people a Village decade ago chose to live separate from society, free of technology and medical advancements. A young man in the clan is seriously injured and needs life-saving medicine, which they do not have. The medicine can only be obtained by walking, through miles of dark woods, potentially facing ominous creatures that for a decade have haunted the villagers. The mere mention of the creatures sends shivers down spines and makes neck hairs stand on end.
Who in the village volunteers to face creatures as well as the ominous woods to reach civilization? Not the able-bodied, and not the teen boys. Instead, the young man's fiance. She is brave. She is bold. She is in love. And, she is physically blind. Yet, though her vision fails, other keen senses take over. With walking stick in hand, she faces the unseen, solo. After a lifetime of daring challenges with bumps, bruises, failures and maybe even stove burns... she utilizes survival work-arounds. She successfully weaves through trees and brush, and even avoids and then utilizes a perilous pit, facing a life-threatening attack. Beyond love, she courageously lives.
And, on a personal note---
My life is a work-around. God through his Son Jesus saved me from certain eternal death, He faced Satan and won. He loves me...beyond. And one day I will see my Savior in Heaven. And that's not all. In "the day of salvation" He.Immensely.Helped.Me. and He Continues To Help Me. I still live on this earth, and I press on, in training.
" '...and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation..." (2 Corinthians 6).
"Put your blinders on and run your race, and don't compare yourself to the other horses... focus on your own race and just do your best, the prize often goes to the person who tries the hardest" (Leeza Gibbons).
I am a thoroughbred in training. My most recent and basic personal training opportunity: A 10-day "home missions"-trip and its return drive. Chicago-to-home, in my car, I miss a turn on the overwhelming St. Louis bridge, at Busch Stadium heading to 44. I feel a considerable "disturbance in the force." I fail; fill up with gas; laugh; and follow my GPS's work-around instructions. What's the worst that could happen? and I ask, "Was the road trip necessary? did my pregnant daughter need my assistance during her husband's lengthy business trip? Yes."
This unconventional, selectively-perfectionist, photo-bombed writer who employs the story-bomb will embrace highway failure, (lovable) grandchild chaos, a never-ending stomach bug, feline dander, a 16-inch snow blizzard's shoveling aftermath (great cardio), AND, she will laugh through it all. And, less than a month from now, face it all again, including the solo, round-trip 16-hour drive... over the harrowing Mississippi River and through the woods... beyond love, for a special granddaughter's birth. The experiences strengthen my (aging) persistence and love muscles.
In closing, a segue, for me, which is most important: Failing.to.write.is.failure. Keep observing, and for Heaven's sake, keep on writing... God is shaping me. To see the immeasurable.
February's road trip take-away: Beyond love, courageously living... the Voice of Heart-Truth.
The powerful play goes on, and you can contribute a verse
(Walt Whitman)
