In almost everything I do, I want it to be perfect. Recently I was talking to a teacher I had in grade school about my sister, who is now one of her students. "She is so serious, and very hard on herself. Remind you of anyone???"

Born 14 years apart, we are surprisingly similar in some of our mannerisms and attitudes. One of the most striking examples is that pursuit of perfection and the difficulties we face just to keep going in the face of frustration.

If I am working on a task that matters to me, I want it to be perfect. From the outside I am sure it looks like I am doing a good job, but I still feel like I am underachieving, like there is something more I should be doing, like I am not working hard enough. When faced with adversity or challenge I never give up, but it is so overwhelming to keep wanting more and more from myself and knowing I don't have a ready source to draw it from. Somehow I need to find a way to turn around and see it all from the other side, see the bigger picture, and know I still have the power to exceed others' expectations even if I cannot exceed my own.