--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy." description: "\"“Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy.”\" — Erin McCarthy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg" --- # Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy. ![“Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy.” quote by Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg) > ““Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy.”” [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Embracing imperfection leads to genuine happiness. **In simple terms:** Imperfection can be happy. Key Takeaway Accept flaws, enjoy life. Themes happiness imperfection mindfulness Mood content relaxed Type inspirational philosophical When to use this quote - daily life - creative work - relationships - self‑care Key Concepts acceptance well‑being Questions to Reflect On - How can you celebrate imperfection? - What small changes increase your happiness? A Different Perspective Perfectionism can still cause stress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Just Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-happy/) [Perfect Tidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/perfect-tidy-4905221/) [Tidy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tidy/) [Tidy Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tidy-just-4905222/) ## Related quotes > [I have put mY heart mortgages, JusT to see you Happy!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junior-d-r-l-testament/i-have-put-my-heart-mortgages-just-to-see-you-happy/) [Junior Dè Rèál Testament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junior-d-r-l-testament/) > [“I’m just happy to have experienced life; to have had a beautiful son and to have loved.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-b-powell/i-m-just-happy-to-have-experienced-life-to-have-had-a-beautiful-son/) [Aaron B. Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-b-powell/) > [If each one of us could make just one other happy, the whole world would know happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georges-simenon/if-each-one-of-us-could-make-just-one-other-happy-the-whole-world/) [Georges Simenon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georges-simenon/) > [People are just as happy as they make up their minds to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-are-just-as-happy-as-they-make-up-their-minds-to-be/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If you were just you, you would be happy. But of course, you don't know who or what you are. So how can you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-were-just-you-you-would-be-happy-but-of-course-you-don-t-know/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Tidiness is a virtue, symmetry is often a constituent of beauty...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/tidiness-is-a-virtue-symmetry-is-often-a-constituent-of-beauty/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [Stand alone books are nice because they have everything all in one tidy little package. Neverwhere was awesome because you get action, adventure, character…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/stand-alone-books-are-nice-because-they-have-everything-all-in-one/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I recommend tidying by category, not by place. For example, instead of deciding that today you'll tidy a particular room, set goals such as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-recommend-tidying-by-category-not-by-place-for-example-instead-of/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Forgetting your Self is the greatest injury; all the calamities flow from it. Take care of the most important, the lesser will take care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/forgetting-your-self-is-the-greatest-injury-all-the-calamities-flow/) [Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-nisargadatta-maharaj/) > [Be careless in your dress if you must, but keep a tidy soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/be-careless-in-your-dress-if-you-must-but-keep-a-tidy-soul/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“Let the grass die. I let almost all of my indoor plants die from neglect while I was writing the book. There are all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-dillard/let-the-grass-die-i-let-almost-all-of-my-indoor-plants-die-from/) [Annie Dillard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-dillard/) > [“the real world is never particularly tidy when it reaches yours hands. Just work with what you’ve got, and make it a little bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-tam/the-real-world-is-never-particularly-tidy-when-it-reaches-yours-hands/) [Kenneth Tam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-tam/) > [I'd like to tidy up the entire planet. I would go anywhere if there were something that needs tidying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/i-d-like-to-tidy-up-the-entire-planet-i-would-go-anywhere-if-there/) [Marie Kondo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [“If you tidy your house all at once, you’ll rebound. It’s better to make it a habit to do a little at a time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marie-kondo/if-you-tidy-your-house-all-at-once-you-ll-rebound-it-s-better-to-make/) [Marie Kondō](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marie-kondo/) > [Military operations cannot be tidy or free of friction - particularly in a coalition whose contributing nations see the campaign through national prisms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-jackson/military-operations-cannot-be-tidy-or-free-of-friction-particularly/) [Mike Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-jackson/) ## More by Erin McCarthy > [“Corbin wanted, quite simply, to die. He had wished for death many times over his long lifespan, but never as fervently as he did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/corbin-wanted-quite-simply-to-die-he-had-wished-for-death-many-times/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“If this were a musical, this would signal the start of a dance number. Angry girls sexy danse in unison around the bull pen.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/if-this-were-a-musical-this-would-signal-the-start-of-a-dance-number/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“If she had learned anything twenty-five years, it was that money wasn't worth much if you didn't have anyone to share it with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/if-she-had-learned-anything-twenty-five-years-it-was-that-money-wasn/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“This is really disturbing. I think I'm being scarred as we speak. It's like paranormal porn." Alexis did look a little pale. "Do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/this-is-really-disturbing-i-think-i-m-being-scarred-as-we-speak-it-s/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Just me, rocking the awk.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/just-me-rocking-the-awk/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“I couldn't please everyone, there was no way to do that. But I could please myself. That was my conclusion, and I knew what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/i-couldn-t-please-everyone-there-was-no-way-to-do-that-but-i-could/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“I'd never seen a penis in person and I was curious”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/i-d-never-seen-a-penis-in-person-and-i-was-curious/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Promise me if I don’t make you happy, you’ll toss me aside, no matter how much pressure I put on you. Because even though…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/promise-me-if-i-don-t-make-you-happy-you-ll-toss-me-aside-no-matter/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Did I ever tell you the difference between a Northern fairy tale and a Southern one?" she asked him, indulging herself and letting her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/did-i-ever-tell-you-the-difference-between-a-northern-fairy-tale-and/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Alright, good night,” he said, his words a little slurred. “But before I pass out, I want you to know that you’re the hottest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/alright-good-night-he-said-his-words-a-little-slurred-but-before-i/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“He was a glass half full kind of person and she was...what? The glass is going to break before you can even pour kind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/he-was-a-glass-half-full-kind-of-person-and-she-was-what-the-glass-is/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Who do you become when you've lost sight of who you are but the false you isn't one you can pretend to be anymore?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/who-do-you-become-when-you-ve-lost-sight-of-who-you-are-but-the-false/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Jess?" "Yeah?" "Would you be okay with it if I fell in love with you?" My hear squeezed and I paused, my mouth a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/jess-yeah-would-you-be-okay-with-it-if-i-fell-in-love-with-you-my/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“There is no memory less satisfying than a temptation that we resisted.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/there-is-no-memory-less-satisfying-than-a-temptation-that-we-resisted/) [Erin Mccarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) > [“Just what she needed. She was single and pregnant and her nipples had suddenly become supersensitive $luts looking for action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/just-what-she-needed-she-was-single-and-pregnant-and-her-nipples-had/) [Erin McCarthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) [Explore all 94 Erin McCarthy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/) ## More Happy quotes > [I love going to Columbia, Missouri. That is a really underrated campus. It shocked me when I went there because I really didn't know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kirk-herbstreit/i-love-going-to-columbia-missouri-that-is-a-really-underrated-campus/) [Kirk Herbstreit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kirk-herbstreit/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [Dating someone on the opposite end of the happy spectrum teaches you an incredible amount of patience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pine/dating-someone-on-the-opposite-end-of-the-happy-spectrum-teaches-you/) [Chris Pine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pine/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) [Pancho Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pancho-barnes/) > [Yes, I am happy that my work is recognised, and it is wonderful to be acknowledged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parvathy/yes-i-am-happy-that-my-work-is-recognised-and-it-is-wonderful-to-be/) [Parvathy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parvathy/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Im really happy that I met you I hope you know that](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/im-nothing/im-really-happy-that-i-met-you-i-hope-you-know-that/) [Im Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/im-nothing/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [“So if we’re both so happy, why are we sad?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leah-raeder/so-if-we-re-both-so-happy-why-are-we-sad/) [Leah Raeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leah-raeder/) > [I know George Burns was a very happy man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/i-know-george-burns-was-a-very-happy-man/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) > [I'm happy. I'm always with a smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gael-monfils/i-m-happy-i-m-always-with-a-smile/) [Gael Monfils](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gael-monfils/) > [“Second Splendid Truth One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy. One of the best ways to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gretchen-rubin/second-splendid-truth-one-of-the-best-ways-to-make-yourself-happy-is/) [Gretchen Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gretchen-rubin/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/happiness-is-an-attitude-we-either-make-ourselves-miserable-or-happy/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm happy to be considered desirable. I love it!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sarandon/i-m-happy-to-be-considered-desirable-i-love-it/) [Susan Sarandon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sarandon/) [Browse all 12,897 Happy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erin McCarthy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Happy" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/021/erin-mccarthy-7105_happy_not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy-3023396_3023396.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy.” — Erin McCarthy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erin McCarthy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-mccarthy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“Not perfect, not tidy. Just Happy.”", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-mccarthy/not-perfect-not-tidy-just-happy/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```