Alice Vol. 4 No. 2

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ITH THE
FRIENDS W
GIRL FRIEN
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By Bailey Williams
“Perfectionism” is really not all that perfect. It took me a few
years and some heavy tears to figure this one out. “Perfectionism”
is really not as great as she says she is.
In a matter of seconds, we can all probably name off the girls
in middle school who sent us home crying to our mother’s arms
because we didn’t put on our mascara right. We weren’t invited to
the sleepover. We chose Bath and Body Works over Juicy Couture
body spray.
I became friends with someone like this after middle school.
We stayed together through high school. We became even closer in
college. They say college is when you learn who you really are and
how much your friends shape you. In truth, I was thriving with
her. Early into my freshman year, I discovered a lot about myself;
my individualism, my determination, my organization, and my
driven spark to do everything well to prove I could make it on my
own. The friend of mine began to rub off on my behaviors, even on
my thoughts. She introduced herself politely and as a natural social
butterfly. We were inseparable. We were so close, we even spent
the mundane details of the day together. This was my college best
friend, Perfectionism.
Like our friends in middle school, the story goes a bit the same
way. Multiple times Perfectionism sent me crying to my mother’s
arms. She told me my makeup wasn’t good enough. Then, nothing
became good enough for her. She convinced me I wasn’t desirable
enough to hang out with and could never obtain nice things, no
matter how hard I tried.
My friend Perfectionism convinced me that my eating habits
were the next problem to fix. My ultimate guide to happiness,
success and control were in Perfectionism’s hands. I was no longer
in charge of my decisions.
“Good foods only” was my mantra of grace. Meticulous meals
planned weeks in advance were all that mattered. Skinny, slim and
skeletal was my vision of success.
I used to strive to strictly eat only real and quality ingredients.
Somewhere along my genuine journey for being green, my path
turned from walking down a road to wellness to walking on a
tightrope of perfection. Any little movement swaying me off my
thin rope of rules and regulations was enough to blow me down
Alice Spring 2019 99