Think of perfection as the carrot on the end of a stick mounted to your head. You keep thinking you can grab it if you run hard enough, and sometimes you can get a little taste of it, but it's never enough. You want the whole thing, and even if you get that, right around the corner is another carrot waiting to be chased. You'll grow old and angry chasing perfection. So why bother? Wouldn't you rather spend time playing with your kids instead of mopping the kitchen floor? Wouldn't you rather look unique instead of like a mannequin? Wouldn't you rather be happy instead of perfect? I know I would, because when you're happy, everything is perfect.

Here, then, are three ways to stop chasing perfection:

• Redefine reality from what you see in the media to what you see around you in real life.
• Love your unique traits; they make you interesting to others.
• Be perfectly happy by enjoying everything you are and everything you have... every day.