Looking Back at Your Perfectly Imperfect Life

SAGe (Self-Actualized Genius)—Learn More

September 7, 2025

Sunday SAGe Volume 51: Looking Back at Your Perfectly Imperfect Life

Here is this week’s installment of Sunday SAGe, an email communication that shares wellness inspiration from The Wellness Ethic to help people thrive during the coming week (and beyond!).

This week we’ll put our glorious lives in proper perspective.

Looking Back at Your Perfectly Imperfect Life

An excerpt from The Wellness Ethic:

When I thought about the totality of my life, I kept returning to Irish playwright George Bernard Shaw’s quote: “Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” How did I create myself? Since I have to be me, I created a diagram to help me wrap my arms around my life journey:

As I look at the chart, I find it fascinating how little I knew about what was in store for me once I graduated from RPI. There was no way I could have foreseen the countless adventures that would unfold as I crisscrossed the United States and lived in so many diverse places.

Who could have predicted a wicked tornado would level my cherished home in Mechanicville? That my professional life would include working for Fortune 500 companies and midsize firms in diverse industries, and during that career, I would weather the storm of four layoffs? That I would have a loving family, and they would prove to be the most fulfilling part of my life? That I would passionately pursue side hustles to manifest my dreams? My life journey boggles my mind, just like your life journey probably boggles your mind.

I’ve experienced so much change throughout the years and so much growth. Every box in my diagram represents my humble attempt to nurture the wonderful gift of my existence. The boxes represent relationships, adventures, successes, and challenges. They represent love.

What It Means

My life has been perfectly imperfect. Many people have achieved more financial success and professional accolades than me. Many people have better aligned their lives to their life purpose. And they may be happier and more fulfilled than I am. But I’m not living their life—I’m living mine.

I’ve done my best to make love and character central to my life. I’ve been challenged with stupid stuff, but who hasn’t? It’s a part of everyone’s journey. Obstacles lead to opportunity, engagement, and growth. They’re an indispensable ingredient to a fulfilling life.

My life is the perfect life of an imperfect husband, father, son, brother, friend, writer, creator, leader, collector, entrepreneur, life coach, humorist, and servant. I’m thrilled with that. It’s a good life.

Your Call to Action

Consider mapping out your own life journey. Then think about the triumphs and challenges in your life, the constant change, the relationships, the love. Give yourself grace. Understand and accept that you did the best you could. You are living your own perfectly imperfect life.

With the wisdom of your life journey by your side, how do you want to shape today and tomorrow?

Embrace the opportunity to live your fullest life this week.