How Perfection is Impossible,

Here are 10 finds that I thought might trigger your curiosity this month:

I.

A wonderful quote I’ve come across this month, on how striving for perfection is impossible:

“Perfection is impossible. In the 1526 singles matches I played in my career, I won almost 80% of those matches.

Now, I have a question for you. What percentage of points do you think I won in those matches? Only 54%.

In other words, even top-ranked tennis players win barely more than half of the points they play. When you lose every second point on average, you learn not to dwell on every shot. You teach yourself to think, okay, I double-faulted … it’s only a point.

Okay, I came to the net, then I got passed again; it’s only a point. Even a great shot, an overhead backhand smash that ends up on ESPN’s top 10 playlist. That, too, is just a point. And here’s why I’m telling you this. When you’re playing a point, it has to be the most important thing in the world, and it is.

But when it’s behind you, It’s behind you.”

II.

An observation that’s been on my mind this month: