“It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect”—4 Tips From “With Love, Meghan” That I’m Stealing

Meghan Markle’s eight-part Netflix series “With Love, Meghan” paints an idyllic picture of domestic life.

I didn’t expect to learn any lessons watching this show because Markle and I live two very different lives—and what lessons could I learn from someone with more available resources than I can even imagine? But, I gave the show a chance: I’ve spent most of my life watching shows hosted by women who don’t look like me, and it’s extremely refreshing to see a Black woman host a show about homemaking.

Following her through her day-to-day life of beekeeping, hosting loved ones, and cooking, Markle was just so undeniably polished and aspirational that I couldn’t help but pick up a thing or two. Here are the four lessons I simply cannot let go of.

“It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect”

The one phrase I think Markle repeats the most throughout the series is “it doesn’t have to be perfect.”

At first, I rolled my eyes, because of course someone who is practically the picture of perfection would say something doesn’t have to be perfect—but I think perfection is typically what stops people from giving something a try.

Throughout the series, Markle is constantly freestyling different dishes without focusing on perfection and I think this is a mindset that could translate to a lot of things in the home. Whether it’s a DIY project, deep cleaning, decluttering, or really anything else: it doesn’t need to be perfect, you just need to try.

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Don’t Underestimate the Little Details

In the first episode of the series, Markle expresses just how much thought she puts into the little details—both for herself and for her family and guests. She opens the series talking about just how much effort she puts into setting up her guest room, considering what the “good morning and the good night” is for them.

It’s a sentiment that you can tell is appreciated by everyone she interacts with: from her friends, to people meeting her for the first time, and even the crew filming her.

Keeping the little details in mind and making everyone who enters my home feel like they’re getting an experience that’s specific to them is very important to me this year.

“You Can Do This”

This may be a product of having a lot of time on her hands, but the common theme throughout the series is that Markle has no fear of trying something new that she’s never tried before. Whether it be making beeswax candles, pickling strawberries, or even making a balloon arch for her son’s birthday, Markle is not afraid to give something new a shot!

When it comes to home DIYs, I think it’s really easy to be intimidated and give up before giving yourself an honest chance. I’m hoping to have more of a Markle mindset this year and give every project an honest shot—”it doesn’t need to be perfect,” after all.

Share With Your Community

In the age of social media, it can feel like everyone is sharing a little too much of their lives with the world. For Markle, “sharing” isn’t a digital thing—it’s in person and personal. Whether it be the honey grown in her backyard or homemade fruit preserves, she’s always willing to share with her friends, even to the point of shipping things to them.

It’s not just about sharing things, it’s about sharing resources. Markle also doesn’t shy away from learning alongside her friends, or even teaching them a recipe or two. This year, I hope to share more of my DIY projects, home improvement projects, and culinary breakthroughs with my friends so we can learn more together.