After the third time of being told that she simply wasn't good enough, Ruby decided her day couldn't get much worse. That, of course, is when she realized she missed her bus to get back to her apartment.

With a deep sign, she set off for her apartment, resigned to just trek the two miles on foot.

It didn't take long for Ruby's thoughts to run away. Never in her life had she had any hiring manager tell her she wasn't good enough, let alone three in one day. Now that's not to say she's gotten every job she's ever applied for. It was just every one else before today had sent a politely worded rejection email or gave her a gentle letdown, not explained every one of her shortcomings in detail directly to her face. She would give them props for the sheer nerve of it all if they hadn't hit the nail so directly on the head.

It's not like Ruby was under any illusions about her talents. She spread her eggs out across many different baskets, so to speak. It was how she liked it. Her weeks were probably a dictionary definition of organized chaos. She split her time between lessons for 3 different instruments, volunteering at the local library, and a few different clubs and meetings. It kept her busy, and that's exactly how she liked it.

She liked the variety. She liked the diversity. She loved being able to see different people and do different things throughout the week. Busy never bothered her. It was being bored that she tried to avoid at all costs. So while Ruby had more than a baseline knowledge of a great many things, there were very few things she truly mastered. There was only so much time in a day or in a week, and that was after her time at work and her various extracurriculars. She didn't have a great deal of downtime to available to her where she could practice and perfect any or all of her various skills.

Today, though, it had very clearly proved to be to her detriment, according to three separate people who worked at three very separate businesses.

As always, when Ruby was deep in her own thoughts, her grandmother spoke as the voice of reason in her mind. Seeing as her grandmother had always been her biggest cheerleader and the person she inherited her love of everything from, Ruby was inclined to listen.

She heard her grandmother's musical voice as if she were whispering right in Ruby's ear. "Oh Ruby, don't let anyone dull your sparkle, my love. Don't let anyone discourage you from doing the things that you love. This world isn't made for perfection. There are a million pieces that make up your heart and soul and everything else about. Puzzles, even when finished, are never perfect. The picture can be fully complete, and you can still see the cracks. Shoot for love, shoot for happiness, but don't waste your life shooting for perfection."

With another sigh, this time one full of relief and clarity, Ruby continued on her journey home in an infinitely better mood. As always, her dear grandmother was completely spot on.

With a renewed sense of purpose, Ruby considered all of the puzzle pieces that made up her life, and with clarity, decided, "Why be perfect at one thing when I can be imperfect at number of different things that make me happy? I want to be complete, not perfect."