There seemed to be a general consensus last weekend that Australians did not have a best Prime Minister to vote for. Whoever got into power was only second best.

In the modern age of advanced education, endless opportunities and the power of personal choices, many in their prime lives are waiting for the ONE partner to commit to.  Second best is just not good enough. As time passes by, the thought that maybe a lowering of the standards may be required. The best is no longer around and it is time  to settle down with someone ‘suitable’ instead.

My wife bought a new car recently and after the first carwash, we realised that the bumper bars were not just the same shade of white as the rest of the car  Was this a fault from the dealer, from the factory, or was there some funny business going on?… Surely body coloured bumper bars should be the same colour as the body?

Just as perfection has a spot in the spectrum of the evaluation scale, second best and the rest also have reserved seating. Perhaps the only reason for the best is so that we can accept the rest?

We now have a flawed government to lead the country for the next 3 years and Shirley has bumper bars on her new car that does not quite match the rest of the car. Is it the end of the world? Is acceptance of imperfection a crime against humanity?

I have spent the last few days inspecting bumper bars… and I discovered that mismatched coloured bumper bars are quite common. Apparently, plastic does not take paint the same way as sheet metal and the baking process is different. Now, it is a big sigh of relief. The car is still perfect after all.

In 2016, we will go to the polls again. Tony Abbott would have done his job. We will all still have money in the bank. Our bikes would have had an upgrade. Life would have gone through its usual rollercoaster – but the days keep on coming around and life just ticks them off as they go by.

And in those 3 years, second best would have featured every day. The funny thing is that if you are prepared to accept second best, the ‘mind grind’ shuts up and the process of life rolls on. It may even show you that second best was really the best.