What would Jane Austen Grow?

I love the character of Bridget Jones because…just like her I can say at least there’s someone worse than me.  At the same time I relate to her foibles, I acknowledge my own weaknesses and I rejoice in her triumphs.  Bridget Jones is every woman.  Although I may not burn every meal, I can certainly relate to her being late to the kids school run-and I don’t even have kids.  How pathetic is that?  I’m often late and the only one I’m responsible for is me.

We are forever comparing ourselves to someone else.  We never measure up.  Maybe it’s just me.  I believe we each have a different ideal against which we compare ourselves.  For some it is Mother Teresa, for others Hilary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Serena Williams and even Kate Moss.  We do not have the same ideal-unless you think about God.  But then again there’s not even universal agreement on that.

So the fact that there is not one universal ideal means that not one of us is inferior.  That’s logical right?  We each say to ourselves, “Oh I wish I could be like___________”  And then I add in (maybe you do too) “but I can’t do this and I really suck at that…”  Hell, I may be smart but I’m no Albert Einstein.  None of us are ever enough.  No matter how well I do, I never feel  like I succeed.  I am never good enough.

And Bridget Jones-what would she say to all of this?  After 2 days of obsessing about not being able to compare to Albert Einstein, she’d say “At least I have my kids.  And we’ve just got to keep buggering on.”  And really, isn’t that what life is about?  We just keep moving ahead.

I’m not sure why my husband loves me.  There’s a lot of women out there who are prettier, skinnier, more outgoing and a whole lot more concerned about housework than me.  I may be able to cook a really good meal but I’m still a slovenly mess maker who finds it harder to verbally communicate my thoughts than make a decision-and it takes me months to make a decision.  But my husband loves me!  And it’s because I let him be him.  That’s the ultimate compliment to a slacker.  Just by doing nothing I got a man to love me!

So I say “Stop the madness”. Embrace your inner Bridget Jones.  None of us are perfect.  Hell, most of us are doing well to get out of bed in the morning!  Be thankful for what you’ve got.  If it degrades you and subjects you to abuse, find a way to leave the situation.  Otherwise, hold your head up high and keep on keeping on.