Be Real. Not Perfect.

“Jambiani Beach? Oh, Jambiani Beach is the worst beach here…” says Thani, my driver in Zanzibar, while approaching Jambiani Beach – my home for the next days.
Coming from Kiwengwa Beach, which was just the most perfect dream beach I have ever seen, this message made me a bit insecure about my choice.
When Jambiani Beach is in sight, I actually have to admit that it isn’t the perfect postcard-like beach. But while walking along the ocean for some time I start somehow to like it: the sound of the waves, the fine white sand, the endless stillness… I even like that beach more than any of the other apparently perfect ones before. I liked it for what it is: emerald blue water and finest white sand – both with black and green seaweed spots, as well as water coming and going with ebb and flow. This place gives me the feeling to be safe, to have arrived, to be satisfied.
How that?
Most of us strive to be better, prettier, richer, stronger,thinner, … Probably because we assume that when we are, we will be more liked and loved by others… or even by ourselves? Whereas showing vulnerability is often considered as weakness, failure or something bad, we better hide to stay lovable.
Do you remember the last new thing you have tried to learn? Wasn’t it fun, making mistakes and then succeeding after trying it again and again? Wouldn’t it have been boring doing it perfectly right at the first time? You probably wouldn’t have stayed with it for long.
Having the courage to be our authentic selves, meaning saying and doing what we really think no matter what our counterpart thinks, because we have accepted who we are and maybe even like it, creates somehow a space where others can feel safe to be theirselves too.
It is our imperfections that make us unique and lovable. So just be you – like Jambiani Beach is just Jambiani Beach.