Perfect.

I have a coworker who is a perfectionist.

Perfect teeth.

Perfect skin.

Perfect friggin’ hair.

Perfect image of being the perfect employee.

And truth be told, she is. Perfect, I mean. Especially at work. I don’t think I’ve ever heard her cussing her computer or banging her head in frustration on her cube wall. She never appears frazzled and she never, ever is late or has problems with any project ever, ever. Nothing ever goes wrong in her world.

And did I mention she’s at her desk at 7:45 every morning, perfectly manicured, beautifully and elegantly dressed – and ready to go?

Oh, and she’s thin. Naturally thin.

Naturally.

I was jealous for a time. I mean, I’m probably closer to the company stooge, idiot or geek than perfection. Hell, I’ve been known to come into work sick (oh, she never gets sick or has a red, peely nose), with 15-year-old, crooked glasses on, no makeup and a ballcap from my alma mater. I figure when I’m sick and on deadline, they are damn lucky that I remembered to replace my flannel pj bottoms with jeans.

But then, one day, I looked up from my chaos and had an epiphany. (Yes, an epiphany, and you thought I was shallow.) Chaotic though it might be – my life of imperfection is beautiful.

For example:

I don’t stay up until midnight checking emails and sending out meeting requests. I sleep. And you know, I bet my boss thinks I 'manage my time' well since I DON'T send out midnight emails.

I never know what I’m going to wear the next day – it’s an adventure in couture every day. Sometimes things get ironed, sometimes they don’t! I like to think of it as disheveled Posh.

I can enjoy the fun of peeling nail polish and while away time during boring meetings scraping the dregs off.

I get that rush of adrenaline when I’ve procrastinated on a project and only have 15 minutes left to finish… and nothing compares to that little flush of victory when you’ve fixed something you royally fucked up.

Perfection is an illusion.

She must lead a seriously boring life.

And I bet it must be really miserable keeping up that facade.

I think I'll stick to chaos.