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What Johnny Depp Can Teach Us about Perfection #atozchallenge
Friday, April 19, 2013 at 10:53PM 
“We’re all damaged in our own way. Nobody’s perfect. I think we’re all somewhat screwy; every single one of us.” – Johnny Depp
The legend of Johnny Depp (a mysterious, boundless, hot, untouchable hero who men love just as much, if not more than women) is one of a mythological figure that even the actor himself doesn’t live up to. He smokes, drinks and threatens to bite the noses off of any paparazzi who snap photos of his children.
These characteristics illustrate how Depp is simply a man; a talented man indeed, but, a man nonetheless. Those of us who adore him have kept the legend alive by putting him up on a pedestal of perfection but there are two things we can learn from the man that perfected the art of being strange.
Lesson #1 - Perfection lies in the Versatility of a Thing
This Oscar nominated actor’s rise from the horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” to upcoming western “The Lone Ranger” and a long-standing role as Captain Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise can be attributed to his adaptable nature. If you compare the average person’s quest for perfection to Depp’s performance in each of his roles, however, flexibility is rarely among anyone’s top priorities.
As precious as time is, it’s troubling how much of it we waste trying to be perfect in every way. People seek a perfect appearance, perfect relationships, perfect mates, perfect jobs, etc. while trying to be perfect cooks, perfect hosts to house guests, perfect athletes – the list goes on.
If Johnny Depp teaches us anything, it is that a little lot of versatility can take you very far on the path to being the best in whatever role you choose to play. Want to be a perfect mountain climber, runner, writing professional, employee of the month or whatever has you putting in those extra inches of time and effort?
Consider being flexible in how you reach that desired level of perfection. Doing so will likely get you closer to your goal – you’ll just have to realize that a perfect toned body doesn’t have to look like an exact replica of the Olympic swimmers or gymnasts to be deemed a success.
You also don’t need to have your name in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the slimmest, most muscular or healthiest person alive to be the perfect YOU – whatever that looks like throughout your exterior and interior selves. The same goes for professional goals and personal interests.
Lesson #2 – All you have to do is be perfect at one Thing
The Guardian says Johnny Depp is not the best actor in the world, yet, possesses a “kooky freakery” that cannot be matched by anyone else. Despite Depp being what many people would describe as a weird individual, he is able to channel that into his work, resulting in large box office returns and critical acclaim. That goes to show that one need not be perfect in every sense of the word to excel in life.
In fact, as Johnny Depp would have it, you might be better off staying in your lane and making it work to your advantage instead of worrying about the areas where you fall short. If you are a great cook, then who cares if you can’t draw or paint worth a damn?! If you won the genetic lottery and are drop-dead gorgeous, then why are you stressing about the length or color or texture of your hair?! First, be glad that you have hair and food on the table to work with in the first place.
Perfect the things that you are best at and let those qualities shine through. The rest can probably be obtained or developed later as you go through life – or not. Either way, at least you can rest with the confidence of knowing that you are perfect the best great at something – whatever that something is.
Just as the definition of beauty varies depending on whom you ask, perfection is not something that we can put an exact finger on since it looks different from one person to another. Unfortunately, many of us forget that as we try to live up to certain standards that are skewed in the interests of public opinion and then measured against our own inner critics. It is a recipe for disaster in a never-winning battle.
Think these lesson are full of crap? Well, embracing quirks worked for Johnny Depp – and who is going to argue with a man who lives in three different countries and sits among the highest paid actors in Hollywood?! I’m not dismissing the importance of you striving to make yourself better, especially when it comes to getting out of your comfort zone every now and then. On the contrary, I am suggesting that the fastest route to perfection may be finding your thing, embracing it and working the hell out of it until you’re a master at it – and even then, there will continue to be more work to do.
If YOU could perfect one thing about yourself, what would it be?
Do YOU think perfection exists? If so, how does one obtain it? If not, then why are people trying to obtain it?
*A to Z Challenge Alert as of Saturday, April 20th, 2013: I'm not feeling well this evening and thus, the posts for Letters Q and R will be posted tomorrow on Sunday, April 21st, as a double feature.
Reader Comments (10)
An enjoyable read on a fascinating actor. Thank you for sharing this (smile).
I've always seen perfection as something that can be striven for but not attained due to our humanity. We are imperfect by our very genetic being. Even if a person somehow manages to build the society-based perfect shape, weight, style of hair and close along with the appearance of perfection of other facets of their life, something will and should be a little off. They're human, not robots. And that's not a bad thing.
The mystique of Johnny Depp will probably and forever make him one of those actors that I'll faint around if I ever get in the same breathing space lol!!!
Oh, I'm going to wax philosophical here... but you asked for it - lol ;)
I believe 'perfection' is a state of mind and being, one in which you accept your own flaws as well as those of others around you for what they are and come to peace with them. Inner peace is perfection, regardless of the dents, scratches and corrosion seen from the outside. You can't strive for perfection; that is wishing for change, and wishing for change is not acceptance.
Ramble over :) Thank you for an excellent post!
Great post. Striving for perfection is part of the journey and growth happens as you stumble along the way.
www.wearinglemon.blogspot.com
I'd write perfect books. Then I'd stop all worrying--such a waste of time, yet hard not to do. Last, I'd be totally patient with myself. I'm sure I could come up with other tons of other areas I'd like to perfect, but since there's not a chance in hell I'll ever be perfect in anything, I'll stop with these three.
p.s. I'm a Johnny Depp fan to the extreme.
I remember watching a young Johnny Depp on the Canadian tv shoe 21 Jump Street, and then seeing his roles continue to evolve. I believe perfection is a moving target that can never be achieved but as children we imagine perfection could redeem us if we don't feel worthwhile.
I strive for perfection and fall far too short of it, far too often. This post is an honest reflection on why I never reach my goal. I'm totally 'screwy in my own way'.
For me, perfection is not so important as just putting in a substantial amount of time at a certain task, like writing or crafting. I am not a perfectionist, and have thus far avoided the "Pinterest trap" when it comes to parenting/home decorating/cooking. Perhaps because I have two small children, I have come to value the time spent working on something rather than making it "perfect".
Hope you feel better soon! Keywords I picked up on are versatility, beauty and one. Regarding perfection, I'd have to go with perspective. I strive to do the best I can do, as often as I can. However, I know everything I do is far from perfect. There's always room for improvement, someone who can teach me a little bit more and those who I can teach in turn. Guess we're just all in this together...
I don't think I want to be perfect. Their is something so final about perfect and where's the fun in that. I think Johnny Depp's appeal is he is such a cool guy and he would only play cool parts, so we assume everything he does has his approval as being cool. My love of Johnny Depp started all the way back with 21 Jumpstreet.