Life is not meant to be perfect ...

The Glorious Mess that is Life

Isn't it true

That we expect life to be

Only straight lines

Nicely ticked boxes

Smooth calm seas?

Tight buns without so much

As a hair out of place

Cardigans with all their buttons

Husbands who listen

to what we have to say?

But in fact

Life is meant to be messy

Full of ups and downs;

Rainy days, lost car keys

Dog-eared books

Stubborn stains on the carpet

And pimples on chins,

Rising petrol prices

Split grocery bags

And spilt milk.

What if,

Instead of always expecting

The wind to be behind us

And smooth downhill slopes

We simply accepted the spirals

curves, twists and turns?

We stopped trying to change

The course of the rollercoaster

And instead kept our arms and feet in

And buckled up for the ride?

Would our frown lines

Become less pronounced,

Would we have greater appreciation

For the highs

And find more tolerance

For the lows?

Life is just not meant to be perfect,

Because actually

There is no such thing;

For if there were only bright summer days

Would we ever fully feel

The sun kiss our skin?

If there were never any rain clouds

Would rainbows even exist?

If we'd never been shrouded in darkness

Would we know what light was?

And if there was no hate

Would we ever really know

The real wonder of love?

So,

 Although I don't wish you discomfort

Hard times or strife

I know that these things

Will sooner or later

Show you the true beauty

Of life.