I get overwhelmed when I watch youtube videos of guys fixing their canoes. They are so good at what the do- it looks like perfection. How could I possibly generate revenue fixing old canoes when I am not at the same level? I pause, re-think my life choices, think about how my canoe is so imperfect and wonder if anyone would want to purchase something that is not perfect.
Look at all the lines left by the filler. I can sand them down so that they are smooth but the residual marks will remain even after several coats of paint. Don't get me wrong, the canoe is still functional. It will paddle well and last for many more years but it just doesn't have that same look of perfection.
I'm ok with that. I just won't charge as much when I go to resell. I believe there is something human in imperfection because it tells a deeper story. It bares witness to past adventures and it corroborates the notion of a journey well lived. I am not a perfect person, I do not lead a perfect life and I certainly have lots more to learn. I am not ashamed of my imperfections, rather the opposite: I embrace it. Yet that doesn't mean I will settle for imperfection. My goal is to improve, get better, strive for perfection. For me, that comes in practice.
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