Beauty

Trying to hold it all together is a stress.

Trying to be perfect, trying to constantly look good.

Trying to do the right thing, say the right thing.

Trying to please everyone, making sure not to offend anyone.

Trying, trying, trying.

Then the massive failure, and it all comes crashing down.

A mind-made illusion of perfection - "how it should be" - comes to an inglorious end.

And what is left is an honest human being in all its imperfect glory.

Don't pick up the pieces. Don't try to glue together the false image of oneself. Let the fragments fall away. Take a deep breath, and feel the relief of being real. The relief of not having to pretend to be something that we're not. 

The relief of being exposed for what we are.

Underneath that is beauty.