“'If only I could commit to a new daily habit perfectly, 365 times, no matter what…'
It's my nature. I can't help but wish for perfect New Year's Resolutions. The trouble with those perfect goals? The only place they can live is in my head.
When I try to be perfect, the inevitable happens—I miss a day, or I make a mistake—which makes me want to give up. Then, those goals go back to being daydreams.
It's only by letting go of perfection that I can allow those goals to live and breathe in the real world. They can't exist perfectly, but existing imperfectly is much better than not existing at all.”
- Dr. Sarah Glova, Co-Editor of 8&21 and recovering perfectionist
The joy of making mistakes
"Reframing errors as lessons learned is not just for work projects.
I've found that experimenting (and often failing) in the kitchen provides me with ample opportunities for learning—especially as I'm adapting recipes for family members with food allergies.
It can be frustrating to try a new recipe that fails. (Or to ruin the fajitas by accidentally adding cloves instead of cumin—do not recommend.)
The mistakes I've made have helped me become a better chef. So I keep trying, which will help me to keep learning."
- Dr. Sarah Egan Warren, Co-Editor of 8&21 and amateur chef enthusiast
- Tori Tsui, Climate justice activist & organizer, reflecting on the distraction of perfectionism during “A Conversation Hosted by Emma Watson” at The New York Times Climate Hub.
