broken bowls
For the past few months, I've been pretty broken and thought I was damaged goods. But, if you're familiar with the Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, you'll know that brokenness can be something to celebrate. Kintsugi is the art of taking broken ceramics and putting them back together with gold or other precious metals, making them stronger and more beautiful than before. Kintsugi is related to wabi-sabi, the Japanese concept of finding beauty in imperfection, and Mushin, the Japanese philosophy of living in the present moment and embracing life as it is. I was reminded today of those art forms by a dear friend, and I reflected on my own experiences over the past few months and all that has been broken. Though it has been incredibly hard to go through this time, it has made me appreciate what I have and taught me that broken can be beautiful too. It's a reminder that life is full of ups and downs, and those experiences make us stronger and more resilient if we allow them. It's time to start celebrating the brokenness and embracing them as part of our journey.
Those philosophies remind us that even though there are difficult times, we can come out stronger on the other side if we find a way to make peace with our circumstances. It helps us focus on what is important and appreciate every moment as it comes our way. We may not be able to control everything that happens to us but we can choose how we respond to it. They are meant to remind us to practice self-compassion and use our experiences as tools to become stronger rather than dwell endlessly on them. Our scars tell stories that may be painful at times, but they are ultimately a reminder of our resilience and strength and that there is value in imperfections, and that these imperfections are something to celebrate, not hide.
I'm ready to move on and begin my journey toward greater self-discovery and appreciation for life's ups and downs. I am no longer afraid of being broken because I know that even in the darkest of moments, there is still beauty to be found if I am willing to look for it. For me, it has been a journey of contrition and healing, and I'm moving forward with an appreciation for life's lessons, even if they're the hard ones. It's time for me to find beauty in brokenness, learn from it, and grow stronger. It’s a philosophy that encourages us all to be brave enough to pick up the pieces when we fall – and use those pieces to build something beautiful instead of throwing it in the trash and starting over from scratch!
I think I am in the gluing back together phase of my journey, and I'm realizing its ok if pieces are broken or missing or they just don't fit together anymore, but with time and patience, I will eventually be stronger, more valuable and more beautiful than ever. Remember Kintsugi isn't just a craft, it's an attitude and a real philosophy toward life. So, I'm going to be embracing it – and all the brokenness that comes with it. And who knows, maybe I'll even take up ceramics as a way to practice what I preach! It's time to see Kintsugi in my life and find beauty in the shattered pieces.
I'm sure you've got your own story of brokenness that can be just as inspiring. There is beauty and strength in being vulnerable, in being mature enough to accept the results of actions, in being responsible enough to sweep up the broken fragments, and in being patient enough to put them back together -no matter how difficult or long it might take. Creating a work of art takes time, so wherever you are in your journey, take solace in the fact that brokenness does not define you – it only makes you more beautiful and unique. Take time to work on your masterpiece and start embracing your broken bits.
It doesn't matter if you're struggling with a broken heart or a broken dream - any kind of brokenness can be turned into something uniquely special and beautiful. Be inspired by the art that is your life and challenge yourself to mend the broken pieces with gold. And in so doing, you will come back stronger and brighter, and more valuable than before.
