Site search
sponsored by
News
I have lately been pondering concepts we humans have created that have caused hardship to us. We create all kinds of fantasies that sound good, at first, but leave us with expectations that are impossible to realize.
One that is very perplexing to me is our accepted concept of perfection. This leads to that unacceptable concept of “imperfection,” which causes us all kinds of remorse, stress, sense of failure, etc.
Why do we burden ourselves with a concept that asks us to achieve the impossible? Perhaps it is a part of being human. We need to have something that is beyond us, that makes us reach for the stars, to set a standard that pushes our limits. But why one that cannot be obtained?
I have never seen, heard, or read about anything that is “perfect.” We do use the term loosely, thus degrading its power, and our selves as pursuers of “perfection.” Do we set the goal so high that we know it is unobtainable and thus let ourselves off the hook for achieving it? Sounds like another human condition that allows us a way out.
Since we are expected to obtain “perfection” and cannot, it’s OK to either put off doing things, or not even try. Why don’t we seek excellence? This allows for error, for “imperfecion,” and makes tasks doable.
Where I am going with this is our way of getting things done. There are so many things we need to do, so many problems that need to be solved, that we cannot wait until something is “perfect,” or we will be waiting forever.
On our local level lots of problems have been identified. Transportation, open space, quality of life, afforadable housing, immigration, to name a few. Our system of goverence knows the problems, but is waiting for the perfect solution before taking action. If we would accept that we are allowed to make mistakes, that what ordinances and laws that are passed can be changed, and admit mistakes, we could do more.
The main issue that faces us in the valley is affordable housing. There are many debates about government participation, private sector solutions, living wages, that it is mind numbing to achieve anything that will satisfy everyone. But the problem is here, is growing, and needs to be addressed. I feel it is better to do something about it than to wait until the “perfect” solution is found.
So what is to be done? The last few months have thrown a stop to a lot of capital expenditures, both private and public. This gives us time to prepare, to form a “Focus Group,” structered as was the Economic Roadmap Group, to come up with a plan. But it needs to happen now, not next week, or next month, or next whenever.
(Russ Criswell is a long-time Carbondale resident and former town councilman.)
One that is very perplexing to me is our accepted concept of perfection. This leads to that unacceptable concept of “imperfection,” which causes us all kinds of remorse, stress, sense of failure, etc.
Why do we burden ourselves with a concept that asks us to achieve the impossible? Perhaps it is a part of being human. We need to have something that is beyond us, that makes us reach for the stars, to set a standard that pushes our limits. But why one that cannot be obtained?
I have never seen, heard, or read about anything that is “perfect.” We do use the term loosely, thus degrading its power, and our selves as pursuers of “perfection.” Do we set the goal so high that we know it is unobtainable and thus let ourselves off the hook for achieving it? Sounds like another human condition that allows us a way out.
Since we are expected to obtain “perfection” and cannot, it’s OK to either put off doing things, or not even try. Why don’t we seek excellence? This allows for error, for “imperfecion,” and makes tasks doable.
Where I am going with this is our way of getting things done. There are so many things we need to do, so many problems that need to be solved, that we cannot wait until something is “perfect,” or we will be waiting forever.
On our local level lots of problems have been identified. Transportation, open space, quality of life, afforadable housing, immigration, to name a few. Our system of goverence knows the problems, but is waiting for the perfect solution before taking action. If we would accept that we are allowed to make mistakes, that what ordinances and laws that are passed can be changed, and admit mistakes, we could do more.
The main issue that faces us in the valley is affordable housing. There are many debates about government participation, private sector solutions, living wages, that it is mind numbing to achieve anything that will satisfy everyone. But the problem is here, is growing, and needs to be addressed. I feel it is better to do something about it than to wait until the “perfect” solution is found.
So what is to be done? The last few months have thrown a stop to a lot of capital expenditures, both private and public. This gives us time to prepare, to form a “Focus Group,” structered as was the Economic Roadmap Group, to come up with a plan. But it needs to happen now, not next week, or next month, or next whenever.
(Russ Criswell is a long-time Carbondale resident and former town councilman.)
