I surround myself with chipped pottery, warbly old bowls, weathered wood.
Preferred imperfections in my home and belongings.
I smile deeply at the differences. Quirky. Odd folk I meet. And like them best of all.
Yet I beat myself up when I am not perfect.
Wife. Mother. Friend.
Cindy.
Like whipping wind until I cannot stand.
Falling into the couch or bed. Hours. Days.
Whirling in my thoughts. Penetrating my dreams.
Why did I say that. Didn't do that. Did that. Forgot that. Look like this.
Ick who's withering hands are stringing my pretty beads?
Wabi Sabi is the Japanese art of appreciating the beauty in the naturally imperfect world.
Imperfect. Impermanent. Incomplete.
Simplicity. Worn beauty of age.
Mindset. Being. Feeling.
Not messy or disrespectful imperfection. Imperfect beauty in it's natural state.
Burl bowls, chipped redware, old cupboards, crafted by hand, roadside stands, worn paint, heirloom vegetables, stone walls.
Cherished with cleanliness and placement.
Thinning here, thickening there, lips that don't stop or know where to start, dried out brain.
Withering hands.
Healthy choices, Heartspeak. Hand Cream.
My Wabi Sabi world.
In my longing to make things better and to fix what I think is broken.
With pure intentions from the depths of my heart
I over tape and glue. Plaster and paste.
Making what is naturally perfect a sticky mess.
Seeing clearly now.
Not just accepting.
Cradling with grace and gratitude.
Cindy I share your feelings...
ReplyDeleteSeems only a few years have passed yet when I look in any mirror I am surprised at the age of the woman who peers back. I feel a bit like my old house: good bones underneath but the exterior is peeling, sagging,and needs work, lol
Still there are parts of the 'inner' me I wouldn't trade for the 20something 'outer' me.
(If only we could have both, eh?)
Thanks for this post - and all the others of yours I've enjoyed since finding your writings just recently!
PS I'm a fellow 'imperfect beauty' lover and dedicated 'polka-spot' fan too :0)
beautiful...thank you, Cindy.
ReplyDeleteOh Cindy...we all long for the youth that has zipped by without warning while we basked in the sunsets and sunrises of our lives. Our minds are back 'there' and our bodies are...well, 'here'. Never fails to amaze me.
ReplyDeleteI look at your pictures or wander through your home and I see life rather than imperfection. Art rather than projects and experience rather than incompleteness. I have to wonder, is it all the point of view, or the view point???
:-) **Tami
Beautiful words, Beautiful pictures, beautiful YOU !
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Dru
You are perfect, don't ever doubt that <3 Love what you do and write~
ReplyDeleteYou have such an eloquent way of expressing yourself. I love all your "treasures"
ReplyDeleteWabi Sabi = Peace! I love your post. Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDelete~*~Lisa
Perfectly peaceful post....love it! (-:
ReplyDeleteI love all your imperfects....they all tell wonderful stories. I always reach for the chipped, warped, cracked things I see for sale...they tug at my heart and feed my soul! My hands, too, amaze me...more like my father's than my mother's, both long gone now. But my skin has stories to tell as well...and I've earned every wrinkle and gray hair. Not that I'd want to be 20 again, but I would like to be able to garden on my knees or skip down the stairs or wake up without pain in my joints. But we all just keep going .... not ready to rust and rock yet!! I love your spirit and always look forward to a new blog post from you. Keep on keeping on!!
ReplyDeleteThere was a release in just writing the words accepting my personal imperfections.
ReplyDeleteSeeing with a new point of view Tami <3
...it's that Catholic Italian guilt thing ya know that keeps nibbling at me now and then.
Yes Lisa, wabi sabi most certainly does = peace :) :) :)
My love to you all <3 <3 <3