The Beauty of Being Broken and Whole at the Same Time

We live in a world obsessed with flawless, yet I’ve found more healing in my flaws than I ever did in looking for perfection.

In a world continually defined by appearances that are filtered and self-generated, how do we define perfection? I think defining perfection is similar to how we used to define normal.

Growing up, I remember gravitating to families who appeared “normal” to me. As a child from what others called a “broken” home, raised by my father in a way that was anything but “normal,” I longed for normalcy. Family dinners, being tucked in at night, and having a sense of safety—that was the normal I believed existed in the homes of my friends.

At that young age, I had no idea that we all lacked that feeling of safety in different ways. Now I understand that every family carries its own unique challenges, and no one is truly normal.

My father did the best he could with the resources he had. While we moved often, and while food, clothing, and stable shelter were sometimes uncertain, he did everything within his power to keep us safe. His love was steady, even in unconventional ways, and through it all, I never felt alone. Yet while I felt safe with my dad—because I knew he would always be there and protect me in every way he knew how—I still felt unsafe.

I went to nine different schools, and lived in even more houses. Packing up and moving in a weekend was not unusual, and it even became part of our “normal.” That didn’t make my dad a bad father; in fact, it was how he kept us safe.

Being the youngest of three sisters, I was blessed with the security they gave me, and I was never alone. While so many of us crave being alone, it is also one of the hardest places to be. I’ve found that learning to be alone is the only way to truly find yourself.

That led me to the question of perfection—the personification so many see on Facebook, then crave, judge, or misunderstand.

There is no perfection in my life, and I’m okay with that. While you may only see the happiness—because not all of my traumas are in the public eye—I’m okay with that. My life is as rewarding, and as perfect, as I choose to make it.

Some say I “broke” or had a breakdown. Maybe there’s truth in that. But it also brought more light. Because to see true light, you must be willing to walk through shadows.

I’m not seeking perfection. If my optimism offends, I’m sorry—that’s never my intention. My flaws are oversharing, seeing the good in the bad, finding light in the darkness, and being overly optimistic. Naïve at times, yes—but also learning to create safer spaces for myself and those around me.

Perfection is as abstract as normal. We find true happiness when we stop searching for either. I’m thankful for the imperfections, the life lessons, and even the shadows, for they make me who I am.

This is why I believe healing isn’t about chasing perfection—it’s about learning to sit with the shadows and still choosing the light. That’s what Earth Whispering Healing is for me: a reminder that we don’t have to be flawless to be whole.

✨ Keep healing, keep sharing, and keep shining.

Love & Light,

Lori