The other day at my warehouse, my dad started picking on me.
He noticed I had tossed a can in the trash instead of the recycling bin and—half teasing, half calling me out—said,
“Miss Sustainability, huh?”
Cue the internal storm.
My first instinct? Defensiveness. Embarrassment. That uncomfortable flicker of “Oh no, I’ve failed.”
And then… I paused.
Because here’s the thing: I care deeply about sustainability.
It’s part of who I am, part of my brand, and part of how I live.
But I’m not perfect.
And I’m not supposed to be.
We All Have an “Ideal Self”
We all carry a version of ourselves in our heads—our ideal self.
She’s calm. She’s balanced. She remembers every sustainable swap.
She eats clean, recycles everything, makes time for gratitude, and never forgets her reusable bags.
But sometimes? I get stressed. I get distracted.
And yes… sometimes I drive to McDonald’s just to get a fountain soda because it’s my weird little treat that makes me feel good.
That doesn’t make me a hypocrite.
That makes me human.
The Pressure to Perform Our Values
When we care deeply about something—whether it’s sustainability, wellness, parenting, mindfulness, or business—we often feel pressure to live it out perfectly. Especially when others are watching.
But life isn’t a perfectly curated Instagram grid.
Real life is messy. Sometimes we’re tired. Sometimes we forget.
And if we only feel worthy when we’re doing it “right,” we’re setting ourselves up to feel like we’re always falling short.
Here’s what I’ve learned:
The more grace I give myself, the more I can give to others.
The more I stop expecting perfection, the freer I feel to just keep showing up.
It’s Not Really About the Can
That can in the garbage? It’s not really about the can.
It’s a reminder.
That progress matters more than perfection.
That caring doesn’t require flawlessness.
That a life well-lived is full of effort, intention, and forgiveness.
I’ll keep caring.
I’ll keep working toward the version of me I aspire to be.
But I’m not going to beat myself up when I miss the mark.
Because I’m not here to be perfect.
I’m here to be real.
To try. To show up. To grow.
Let’s keep caring.
Let’s keep trying.
And let’s be gentle with ourselves along the way.
Leave a comment