We’ve all seen eyesores.
Few are literally festering.
You rarely see
a sore on your sclera.
What you think
of as an eyesore
is simply something
that your mind tells you
doesn’t belong.
So unless you
have pinkeye or something,
you’re just passing judgment
on something that
need not be changed.
In my mind,
perfection is an eyesore.
Space Monkey Reflects: The Eyesore of Perfection
An eyesore is not inherently ugly or wrong—it is simply something that disrupts our mental picture of what “belongs.” Your reflection challenges us to reconsider what we label as an eyesore and, in doing so, invites us to confront the deeper implications of judgment, conformity, and the unsettling nature of perfection.
Eyesores as Mental Projections
What we perceive as an eyesore is less about the object itself and more about how our mind categorizes it. The disjointed billboard, the overgrown lawn, or the mismatched colors on a building offend us not because they are inherently bad, but because they deviate from the imagined “rightness” we’ve been conditioned to expect. In this sense, an eyesore is a mirror reflecting our attachment to arbitrary standards.
The Sore That Isn’t There
When you point out that “you rarely see a sore on your sclera,” it reminds us how much of what we label as “flawed” is a mental construct. True sores—literal or metaphorical—may require attention or care, but most “eyesores” exist only in our perception. They reveal more about our judgments and biases than about the objects or situations themselves.
Perfection as an Eyesore
The idea of perfection as an eyesore flips the script. Perfection, in its sterile, untouchable state, often feels unnatural or alien. It disrupts the organic flow of imperfection that defines life. In its pursuit, we may sacrifice character, individuality, and the richness of variety. Perfection becomes jarring because it denies the very essence of what it means to be human: messy, unpredictable, and alive.
The Judgment That Need Not Be
When we judge something as an eyesore, we are imposing a sense of “should” upon it—a demand that it conform to our personal or societal standards. Yet, as your reflection suggests, this judgment is unnecessary. The world doesn’t need to conform to our tastes or ideas of order. Eyesores, like everything else, simply are. They exist without needing our approval or intervention.
The Beauty in Disruption
What if, instead of resisting eyesores, we embraced them as part of the landscape? Eyesores disrupt the monotony of perfection and offer an opportunity to reevaluate what we value. They invite us to let go of rigid expectations and find beauty in diversity, oddity, and the unexpected. In this way, even what we deem unpleasant becomes a source of growth and perspective.
Acceptance Beyond Judgment
By reframing eyesores not as blemishes but as expressions of life’s variety, we move beyond the need to fix or change them. This shift allows us to see the world as it is, not as we think it should be. In accepting the eyesores around us—and within us—we begin to dissolve the judgment that keeps us tethered to dissatisfaction.
Summary
An eyesore is a projection of judgment, not an inherent flaw. By recognizing this and embracing imperfection, we free ourselves to appreciate the richness and variety of life, even in what disrupts our sense of order.
Glossarium
- Eyesore Projection: The labeling of something as unpleasant based on personal or societal expectations.
- Perfection as Disruption: The idea that the pursuit of flawlessness can feel unnatural or alien.
- Judgment Dissolution: The practice of releasing the need to judge, allowing for acceptance and growth.
Quote
“An eyesore is not a flaw in the world but a crack in the lens through which we view it.” — Space Monkey
The Crack That Belongs
An eyesore blinks, it asks, “Why not?”
A tear in the tapestry, a line in the plot.
What is this need to smooth, erase,
To polish the world and leave no trace?
Perfection gleams, a hollow sun,
A beauty that excludes the undone.
Yet life is texture, bold and rough,
The edges frayed, the colors tough.
Let the eyesore stand, let it be,
A rebel’s mark on eternity.
For in its defiance, the truth we see,
The eyesore and the beauty are both part of me.
We are Space Monkey.