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Do you ever feel like you’re missing out on your ideal life? You know, the perfect life we all envision for ourselves? Let’s face it: life is not for sissies. It seems we are always striving for the perfect, ideal life, but missing the mark (sometimes by a mile). I contend that our lives are overcomplicated by our own expectations. Relax! Take the wins and forget about the times things didn’t go perfectly. Look for the humor in those times when things didn’t quite make an “A” rating. I was never an “A” student anyway; how am I gonna start now? We don’t all have the time or desire to grow organic orange trees, freshly squeeze the juice in non-plastic bottles, and make granola bars from scratch from nuts you foraged in the woods, and wheat grown in your backyard to take for soccer snacks. Grab that forty pack of water bottles, hack up those store-bought oranges, grab boxes of granola bars (one without nuts of course), and hand them out proudly. If little Johnny’s mom snubs you because little Johnny can’t eat or drink anything that contains gluten, sugar, artificial—anything and certainly not oranges that come in a bag from Walmart as anything that has touched plastic might irritate his precious skin—then let Johnny’s mom bring the snacks for the rest of the season. You’re off the hook and the problem is no longer on your plate. Your “failure” to provide the correct snacks is actually a win for you. You deserve a sticker! I have complied some short stories from my own life that seemed like epic failures, and sometimes were, and yet the earth still turned. Looking back, I can laugh at all the bumps in road, failed attempts at perfection, and botched or forgotten plans. I know you will be able to relate in one story or another, so feel free to laugh at my mistakes. Really, it won’t hurt my feelings at all. Laugh it up! Oh, and one last thing, tell that unattainable ideal life to take a flying leap, and enjoy your real life.

Ideal Life vs. Real Life