The Pressure to Be Perfect

Pressure to be perfect,

To never make mistakes,

Have to always pretend,

Can't ever take a break.

 

Must always be flawless,

Good at every little thing,

Can't ever mess up at all,

No matter what life may bring.

 

Must be perfectly beautiful,

Really, perfectly smart,

Very, perfectly skinny,

And have a perfect heart.

 

But perfect is boring,

You can't have fun,

It's a waste of time,

That can't ever be undone.

 

I'll still strive to be perfect,

Expectations require me to,

Won't ever achieve it though,

It's impossible to do...

Reviews

[Ravyne Hawke]

Love that you end with the truth about being perfect, that it is impossible. I've driven myself insane with trying to be perfect. I may not have regained my sanity, but I have stopped striving to be perfect. I achieved this by not allowing what others thought of me to bother me. What I discovered was that I put all the pressure on myself, not others. Great poem, lots of reflection.

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you (: and yes, I believe that there isn't a single person on earth who can admit to never at all trying to be perfect.. But I think that the closest to perfect you can be, is when you get to that place when you're happy with yourself and who you are, when you finally stop trying to change to please others, or changing to be like others because you think that they're perfect.. Or closer to it anyways. I think everyone just needs to learn to be content with themselves, that's as perfect as we can get(:

[Ravyne Hawke]

You've got it =)

[UnderCompulsion]

This is such a good poem.And I agree with you,pressure can be so unbearable but don't ever let him get you down.And yes perfect IS boring!Perfect is lonely and superficial.And like you said in the end impossible,because nobody is perfect.This world we live in-it is not perfect-people around us-they are not perfect,so why try to be perfect?To be like them?Be yourself and then you'll be perfect. :)

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Hahaha, thanks so much (:

[Lauren]

You're totally right. perfect is completely boring. Have you ever seen someone who is the definition of "perfect", and yeah, they're really pretty, but it doesn't really seem like there's really special about them? They just kind of look like everyone else? I feel like that's the definition of perfect, and yeah, it is boring as can be!
Anyways, lovely poem, very true(:

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you so much! (:

[DrD]

You may not be perfect but one day you will be that perfect someone. I liked this for its openness and honety. I like how it flows and brings across the message that is really the essence of so many young women's lives. Very well done.

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you so much! (:

[CreativeStroke]

Oh there is such truth in this piece. We all struggle with this at some point in our lives and if some one says they haven't... then they are lying. I myself have the need to be perfect for everyone around me, whether it be someone close to me or a perfect stranger. People just need to realize we are all human beings and you can not be perfect no matter how hard you try, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with failing and learning from it. It is how everyone grows up. You portrayed this struggle very well in this piece and it deserves to be praised.

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

"I myself have the need to be perfect for everyone around me, whether it be someone close to me or a perfect stranger." Wow, I feel like you were describing me when you said that... Hahahaa. But yes, I believe that everyone has faced this struggle at least once. People do need to realize that perfection is impossible, it doesn't exist among human beings. But yes, I believe that some people learn best when they try and fail.. Only then are they able to learn the lesson. I'm glad that you felt that you could relate to this, and thank you! (:

[CreativeStroke]

You're welcome and it was something I needed to read. Just a reminder to not strive and be something that I can't.

[Elizabeth Marie O'neil-..]

This was really well written :D
"I'll still strive to be perfect,
expectations require me to,
Won't ever achieve it thought,
It's impossible to do..."
Lalalalaloved this!

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you, I'm so glad that you enjoyed it(:

[sentimental~ galore]

So true and simply put.

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you!(:

[Yumi Lyra Sarazen]

i can relate myself in this poem :( ...Pressure to be perfect,..its really hard when people expects too much from me...

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

YESSSSS, exactly! I'm glad that you could relate to one of my poems, though I'm sorry it had to be this, it really is such a terrible feeling :(

[Yumi Lyra Sarazen]

Yah it is :( the feeling when people around you wants you to always be at your best.

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Yeahs well wanting you to be your best is understandable, but wanting you to be perfect isn't, hahaha. Your best is achievable(: perfection isn't :/

[Natasha]

as a young writer yourself, i feel like you have some good writing skills.

the pressure to be perfect doesn't just end in adolescence, some people struggle their whole lives, in middle/high school keeping up with the popular kids, and into adult hood with "keeping up with the Jones''"

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you so much!

And I don't have anyone to keep up with, I'm just the top student in my grade, and it's a lot of pressure trying to stay at the top, to never make mistakes or hurt anyone's feelings.. I believe that a lot of people think it is merely trying to fit in, as you seem to, but I also believe that there are many different ways that perfection may be interpreted. So I guess in a way, what I'm trying to achieve is standing out? By being the best in my grade? But this poem was mainly about the media's idea of perfection, everyone wants to be the best, and then when they're finally happy, others catch up with them, and then they have to try to be even more "perfect", if such a thing even exists. Oh well, I hate the whole concept of perfection.. It drives people into depression, and even death, a lot of times.

[Natasha]

if you hurt someone's feelings accidentally you are only human :) everyone makes mistakes everyday- i didn't just mean fitting in is just one way- there are a million ways people try to perfect themselves...indeed perfection can do crazy things to people- i feel it's useless to really even say such a word or say you or someone else is, for we are all flawed

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Yes, that is all very true. People can be driven insane by the desire to be their idea of "perfect". It's ridiculous! And yes, I too believe that no one is perfect. But we look at celebrities and such, some of them being people who have been spray tanned and have had many plastic surgeries.. It's impossible to naturally achieve that image, and even they aren't perfect, but it's what lots of people think of when they hear the word "perfect". And then lots of people can't help but compare themselves to those other people.. It's truly horrible.

[Richard Man]

I have heard it on the grapevine that Mr Jones has just had a heart attach brought on by overwork and stress related over eating and his wife's recent lipo-suction has gone septic.

[marie]

its really sad how people can put such pressure on others to try and be perfect and then when they see that they aren't they just throw them into the trash. heers a cheer to another "perfect" person

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Yes, I totally agree! Thanks for the read and review (:

[marie]

:) no prob

[Tomi]

this is brilliant..the pursuit of HUMAN perfection is a waste of time... the solution to imperfection simply to love, care, forgive, know when you're wrong and try not to make the same mistakes...very well put together..Great Job!

[Amandaaa Caroline (:]

Thank you!