I know it's easy to think that Perfect people really do have it all- but remember the swan. Underneath that stately, floating symbol of purity and perfection...

There's a whole hell of a lot of churning going on.
And Kim, you live a blessed life in a beautiful place, with people who love you, and some horses and heelers that think you ain't half bad, either ;)

I don't like to contradict a person right in the middle of their 'envy', but... Perfection is, broadly speaking, a state of completeness and flawlessness.

Now correct me if I'm wrong Kim, after all I am an atheist, but I thought there was only one human to ever reach such a state (roughly 2000 years ago), which means you're envying the wrong person.

Just saying...

Thanks for your sweet comment, Kelley. ;-)

And Angry, she's real all right! I start out envying how perfect she appears, then realize that it's a well-maintained picture, perhaps even a facade, then combine that with the judgementalness inherent to such "perfect" creatures, and that's a recipe to drive me crazy.

It's a flaw of mine. I just need to ignore her and not get sucked in, which, unfortunately, I do sometimes.

Pax. Kimberly

You forgot to mention the splinters in her inner thighs.

Kinda makes all the rest not seem so significant, I think...........

Kimberly,
Their imitation of perfection can suck me in, too. I had one of those in my life -- I really liked her, too -- it was always hard to spend a lot of time with her because she had everything I needed (we were going through a rough time and there was lots missing). And I got sick, spiralling down into a terrible depression. I lost 30 lbs. along the way and though I felt like hooey, apparently I looked great. This person with the perfect life could not get over it, because with all her world travels and beachfront homes and tropical vacations she was a little heavy and didn't like to wear a swimsuit -- and she would have traded places with me in a second. She visited me in the hospital. She brought me flowers and food. She was as dear as dear could be. And all I could do was envy her safety and security, and all she could do was envy my affliction that dropped weight.

We both learned lessons, but I'm not sure exactly what.

There are also people who have told me that nothing bad has ever happened to them. I know it's true. One of these was a minor TV (local) personality and her life truly was perfect. And she, too, was just so darn nice.

It's hard to watch and it would take a saint not to envy. But look how wise our lack of perfection has made us.

Vicki in Michigan --

Well said!

Anne, thank you. ;-)

Kimberly