“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” – Leonard Cohen
In Japanese culture, there is a traditional method of repairing broken pottery with lacquer that dries with the appearance of gold. The broken places are literally transformed into beautiful lines of golden, making the pot not something to be discarded but something to cherish even more for its new and original form. This process is called 'kintsugi'; it is based on the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi which not only accepts but reveres and admires the beauty of imperfection.
No one travels through the journey of life unscathed, unbruised, or dent-free. Our fragilities and vulnerabilities do not render us broken, they add to our depth and beauty – they can become the gold that runs through us. Kintsugi teaches us not to hide our breakages and snags, but instead to wear them proudly as part of our journey.
Our breaks do not make us broken; they make us even more beautiful.
