What does it mean that the earth is so beautiful?

(from) "Flow", Mary Oliver, Long Life


"...on this day as on so many others, a little song runs through my mind. I say a song because it passes musically, but it is really just words, a thought that is neither strange nor complex. In fact, how strange it would be not to think it -- not to have such music inside one's head and body, on such an afternoon. What does it mean, say the words, that the earth is so beautiful? And what shall I do about it? What is the gift that I should bring to the world? What is the life that I should live?"

Pink. Perfection. Music. Truth.

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." 

Salvador Dali

"All of us failed to match our dreams of perfection." 

William Faulkner

"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing."

Harriet Beryl Braiker

Stephanie showed me Pink's new music video yesterday. I've always liked Pink as an artist. I havent liked all the music she's released (which is typical of any artist I like), but she says a lot of powerful things... Things a lot of people are intimidated to say. This song in particular brings to light how strongly society pushes us to be perfect, to fit the mold created for us. She expresses how the pressure sometimes feels unrelenting, and it comes from every angle (peers, parents, media). It also shows how detrimental striving for perfection is. I like the "happy" ending, but I understand that this is an idealistic way to finish the song/video. Not everyone gets to experience the happy ending. But maybe by being aware that we don't have to fit into those oppressive molds, we can begin to accept that being flawed is ok. We don't have to be someone we're not.

"Once you accept the fact that you're not perfect, then you develop some confidence."

Rosalynn Carter

Check this out:

Fuckin Perfect (Video)

Pink

Made a wrong turn
Once or twice
Dug my way out
Blood and fire
Bad decisions
That's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, missundaztood
Miss "no way it's all good"
It didn't slow me down
Mistaken
Always second guessing
Underestimated
Look, I'm still around...

Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less than
Fuckin' perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing
You're fuckin' perfect to me

You're so mean
When you talk
About yourself
You are wrong
Change the voices
In your head
Make them like you
Instead
So complicated
Look how big you'll make it
Filled with so much hatred

Such a tired game
It's enough
I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons
See you same

Pretty, pretty please
Don't you ever, ever feel
Like your less than
Fuckin' perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever, ever feel
Like your nothing

You're fuckin' perfect to me
The world stares while I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lying and I tried tried
But we try too hard, it's a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics, cuz they're everywhere
They don't like my genes, they don't get my hair
String ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that?
Why do I do that?
Why do I do that?

Ooh, pretty pretty pretty,
Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less then, fuckin' perfect
Pretty pretty please if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing you're fuckin' perfect, to me
You're perfect
You're perfect
Pretty, pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less then, fucking perfect
Pretty, pretty please if you ever ever feel like you're nothing you're fucking perfect to me