I love perfection, the way it come in bits and pieces along the way. Like that perfect pie or the moment when an entire set of unlikely circumstances line up to create a memorable experience. “Perfect” is nearly always used to describe some transitory thing. A Perfect rainbow is gone an hours later. Perfect hair, about the same. Except for a certain few women I know whose hair is flat out spectacular as a rule. Even that will pass.

I expect to find little patches of perfect in my day. I even prepare for it. That’s why I keep spices. They’re not just to dress up something that can’t carry it’s own, but they’re a chance to hit it just right on some dish I may conjure up.

That’s why I paint. I love those art experiences where the event, or the outcome, or the feelings associated with the effort stand on their own as the best they could have been, in need of no improvement.

That’s my joy in friendship with the loving and being loved even in the most mundane parts of that responsibility. To enjoy an experience that you would swear in your heart could not have been better is experiencing perfection and I love it!

Here’s the thing, it isn’t subject to external review. When I have a perfect cup of hot chocolate, I don’t need or care what some one else thinks of it. Same with the humorous thought that tickles me silly – you may not get it. It’s still funny though.

We have to build our capacity to enjoy perfection and that’s why we get it in pure but tiny bits, or experience islands of it in a sea of ‘common’ or worse. My son was concerned about whether our present capacities would destroy the joy of an eternal existence because the promise of eternal joy and unending happiness doesn’t match with the life we live where happiness is the spice, not the food. Where it’s the desert, not the main course. He reasoned that it would be boring and worried that if you’re already happy, what is there to look forward to? After all, you already have what you want and need. He mistakenly considered the quest to be the best part when that may alter so that rather than the quest to achieve, there will be a quest to magnify joy where perfection is a normal personal state.

Happiness is not a one level energy of joy. If having peace brings joy, bringing peace to someone else brings more. Taking joy to other people elevates the joy in the one who takes it to others. Maybe on this world, it’s a scattered sunshine design whereas in the next world, it’s an increasing intensity design.

All I know, is that as I’ve sailed through my life’s journeys I have found isles of perfection enough to give me great anticipation each new day.

Speaking of which, I recently did a family photo shoot in a Portland Park. As happens, after it was over and done the best photo opportunities presented themselves. I grabbed the camera and regrettably got the focus a bit soft. Technically, it could be better. But now you can understand why I say it’s a perfect shot. I’m not going to bother you for your opinion about it. She’s adorable and it was a perfect end to the session : )

Ava