Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson for February 10, 2023

To me, perfection is meaningless. If you expect everything to be 100 percent, you have unrealistic expectations.

Hedonism is hard work when applied long-term.

we all live through it, Phoebe

Wonder how the next generation in-universe will take to her stating that it took a decade for her to age from 9 to 10.XD

Perfection is such a horrible word. If something was perfect, other things would have to be exactly like that to be called perfect too, and that would be… perfectly boring.

“Don’t worry about tomorrow, just be real good today!” I.E. One day at a time Phoebe!

Today’s strip reminds me of “The Once And Future King” by T. H. White. The first volume, “The Sword In The Stone” features the young Prince Arthur, known as Wart, who ends up becoming King Arthur and worrying about the new responsibility that he has. In later volumes, he looks back at his childhood and thinks of how he was much happier as a boy having magical adventures with Merlin than as an adult and a King.

If things are “perfect” all the time…. It becomes meaningless and boring.

That’s easy, Phoebe, just have Marigold turn you into a unicorn. Then every day is perfect—so long as you have a mirror handy.

If she was a unicorn then the rest of her life would be perfect. But alas …

“I hope I don’t look back on my childhood and think about how much WORSE my adult life is.”

You will.

Step 1: Define “perfect”

Step 2: Discard that definition, because nothing is

Step 3: Go ride your unicorn; it’s closer than most of us are going to get

There’re 2 types of perfection: everything outer and our own inner. Play with our inner perfection of how we feel, and sometimes our outer perfection of how we do will show.

Perhaps the solution is rhythm. Let there be good and bad periods all through your life.

Easy for the perfect being to say.

I sense another “spell of unintended consequences” episode on the way.

Cue the Springsteen… https://youtu.be/6vQpW9XRiyM

Years ago I knew a young couple, a handsome young married couple. For some unknowable reason they once stated in conversation that they had made a mutual decision that they would never leave their house without looking, their word, perfect. The only thing I could think to say to them was, “I hope your house never catches fire.” Sigh.

Girl, you’re riding a unicorn!

This reaches me in so many ways.

And good for Marigold in being wise and mature with her advice.

Although that is saying a lot for Marigold because she is always worried if she will be as beautiful one moment to the next.

Just be yourself Phoebe and live for the now and nothing else.

Although doing this is easier said than done and that is what we all wish we could do.

Marigold’s frequent nervous breakdowns about her perfection make this very out of character for her.

Maybe Phoebe should question Marigold’s advice because of how she is always obsessing about herself.

we could get into all the worst fears about the future and if we will all remain as good friends and what kind of person we will become.

It’s a very scary time especially when Phoebe hits puberty.

hopefully Marigold doesn’t turn her advice into something like “that’s easy for me to tell another because I know I’m always perfect”.

Perfection as imperfect minds see it. Go for the best you can.

Good is worse than better but that doesn’t make it bad…

TBH, I’ve forgotten about half of my childhood, I think my brain blocked out some unpleasant memories. I don’t even remember any of my friends’ names.