They say,

“Practice makes perfect.”

.

I would like to respectfully disagree.

.

Still Waiting for the User Manual😌

I’ve been practicing adulthood
for quite some time now,

and I still occasionally walk into a room

and forget why I went there.

.

Mirror vs Camera: An Ongoing Feud 😒

I’ve practiced taking selfies.

Hundreds of them.

Yet somehow,

the person in the mirror
and the person in the photo

continue to be complete strangers.

.

Love, Water, Sunlight… and Drama 🎭

I’ve practiced gardening too.

The internet says:

“Give plants sunlight, water, and love.”

I did.

The plant responded by dying.

Meanwhile,

a neglected plant growing from a crack in the pavement

is absolutely thriving.

.

Explain that.

.

One Eye Understands the Assignment🤯

I’ve practiced drawing.

Which mostly means

spending hours creating something beautiful

and then noticing one tiny mistake

that suddenly becomes

the only thing I can see.

.

A Pinch of Hope, A Dash of Panic 😱

I’ve practiced cooking.

And every time I make a recipe,

there’s still a brief moment

when I stare into the pan

and hope for divine intervention.

.

The Perfect Reply Arrives Three Days Later 😪

I’ve practiced conversations.

Yet I still remember things

I should have said

three days ago.

Usually while showering.

When it is far too late.

.

The Password and I Are No Longer Speaking 🤭

I’ve also practiced creating passwords.

Strong passwords.

Unique passwords.

Passwords with capital letters,

small letters,

numbers,

symbols,

and what feels like

a personal sacrifice to the technology gods.

And yet,

every login still begins with:

“Incorrect password.”

Followed by:

“Forgot Password?”

which feels less like a question

and more like a judgment.

.

Practice makes perfect?

Really?

.

Because from what I’ve observed,

practice mostly makes us

slightly less confused than before.

And even that’s not guaranteed.

.

The funny thing is,

the people I admire most

aren’t perfect at all.

They’re the ones who keep trying.

The ones who laugh at their mistakes.

The ones who accidentally send messages too early,

water the wrong plant,

burn the toast,

miss the turn,

make the typo,

and somehow continue living

as if the world hasn’t ended.

Which, surprisingly,

it hasn’t.

.

So perhaps the proverb needs an update.

.

Practice doesn’t make perfect.

Practice makes stories.

.

It gives us the embarrassing moments,

the unexpected detours,

the inside jokes,

the lessons,

and occasionally,

if we’re very lucky,

a little wisdom.

.

Because perfection is impressive.

But imperfection?

Imperfection is relatable.

It’s the selfie that took fifty tries.

The recipe that looked nothing like the picture.

The plant that survived purely out of stubbornness.

The sketch with one slightly suspicious-looking hand.

The password we reset yesterday

and forgot today.

And if we’re being honest,

most of us don’t need another perfect person to admire.

We just need proof

that everyone else is making it up as they go along too.

And after years of practice,

that’s the one thing I’ve finally become good at:

.

Looking perfectly confident…

while having absolutely no idea what I’m doing. 😄🌷✨

.

With love,

—Rajeshwari 🧿💕

© Nihshabd by Rajeshwari. All Rights Reserved