Quite a few years ago I had to deal with the shock of realizing that I am a difficult person.  I have worked on the high maintenance, unrealistic, side of me with a tiny bit of success, though there is always definitely the problem of backsliding. The upside of painful self-awareness is being able to love other imperfect, because of being human people even when they irritate me. This is a magical grace, because if frees me to see past flaws to the good in others.  I admit that on any given day it’s a toss-up whether I can do this. But when I can remember and rest in the love of God for flawed me, it’s much easier. Particularly when what irritates me most is usually what I don’t face in myself.