Living with Imperfections

 

Living with Imperfections

Life isn’t perfect. But people aim for perfection. Sometimes, they come close to this reality. Nevertheless, they fall short. It doesn’t matter what they do. They might try their best to be careful, take meticulous steps, and make important decisions. Still, perfection evades them. This is the reason why most live with imperfections.

Parents delight when a child is born. They are happy, rejoice, and give thanks for having a healthy baby. This little infant will bond with them. However, from birth this precious gift has come into this world with genes inherited from their family. These manifestations play a role in what a Black or White child will become. He or she could be healthy, handicapped, or afflicted with some awful health problem. But parents would do their best to raise them to have a balanced life in spite of these predispositions.

The age of adolescence presents other challenges. This is a time of discovery and experimentation. Some young adults have challenges adjusting to different social environments. They might belong to some group that their family thinks unwise. Their behavior might appear erratic as they are buffeted by emotional upheavals. Yet, they could become well-rounded students, that are able to adjust in society. Whether White or Black, it’s a time of imperfections. Psychologists view such behavior as a vital stage in an adolescent’s life.

Soon afterwards adulthood arrives and are laced with an abundance of trials. By now, it’s time to put one’s education to good use. Being gifted some people find this transition easier than others. There are those who struggle because of poverty. It’s a stage to be independent, marry, and those who are fortunate go on to enjoy the comforts of life. But such goals are often tarnished for many minorities that have experienced a history of slavery. Freedom is a far cry to some of them as racial problems become more pronounced. Learning to navigate this landscape, and keep one’s head above water is challenging. Yet, these years will reflect the great social divisions between Whites, and Blacks.

The senior years for middle-class Whites might mean something altogether different from those of Blacks, as life’s imperfections continue to strive. For the poor, problems abound. They might grow old, but they do so while suffering hardships. There is housing discrimination, some Blacks work in low-end jobs, and live with chronic ailments. These are treated by doctors who are often insensitive to their plight because of a lack of adequate health care provisions. Racism in the medical field is known, and there aren’t adequate options for coping. Despite these conditions the poor is still with us. Inequities exist, and compassionate workers wonder when there will be justice and peace in society.

In spite of these dilemmas many good-natured people hope for better days. The activists keep fighting, praying, and have dedicated their lives to social change. These individuals often witness victories and setbacks. Yet, they persist with their causes. But well-wishers soon realize Americans live in an imperfect world. They continue to work for change. Still, opposing forces stand in the way of those who insist on challenging the status quo. But, the struggle for perfection persists. It seems that with all that these well-meaning people do, it’s still not enough. It’s just the reality of living with imperfections while trying to make life better.