Perfection of Now

A wise and crazy friend recently told me a story that illustrates a moment of clarity: erasure of judgment, beauty in perceived imperfection, the recognition of an example of standing in one’s own power, acceptance and resulting joy … Here is what he wrote:

I remember one of the greatest days of my life… I was 18 years old. The ultimate adventurer…….party, passion and pastrami…….I was bulletproof! I actually volunteered to join the Marine Corps. There I was driving with my friends on spring break in Florida. In front of us was a car moving painfully (for me/us) slow. A little old lady who could barely see over the dash board was at the wheel…..and there was no force known to man that was going to get her to move any faster than about 20 mph. I thought what a useless, incompetent human being. “Survival of the fittest” – “She should be in a home and out of the way. It is not right to have to put up with this shit! We have an important beach party to get to!!!!”

Then it hit me like a ton of bricks! (so did about 6 beers)…….This woman was not incompetent or a useless underachiever…………she Totally Owned the road and her long and experienced life……on her terms ….in her way….in her time!!! In an instant she went from all I despised to all I have ever wanted to be since that day!
At that time I lived in a world that was wrong and could be better if it was the way I thought it should be. This wonderful gray haired angel lived in the world just as it was and just as she was. It is a difficult word….but I’ll say it anyway…..Perfection!