Ikigai Thought for Today: Unbroken
A quick thought on the value of honoring our own history
Audio narration by David Marlow
In Japan, a broken ceramic object, such as a bowl or vase, is repaired using the art of Kintsugi. This technique uses lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum.
Kintsugi, like wabi-sabi, symbolizes the idea that an object's use and wear enhance rather than diminish its worth.
The past harm and repair are honored as part of the history of an object and improved upon rather than being attempted to be hidden.
In many cases, the value of a bowl that has undergone kintsugi restoration may be higher than that of an unbroken bowl.
Much like a broken bowl, we suffer damage in our lives. How we respond, react, and repair makes all the difference.
Imagine trying to repair a bowl with superglue to put it back together like it was. Trying to conceal it only makes it worse. There is no hiding the fact the bowl was broken, and the super glue only emphasizes the fact.
Instead, envision embracing the scars, the wear and tear, and the broken elements.
That’s what a Kintsugi artist does. They embrace imperfections and incorporate them into the beauty of the piece.
We chose whether we remain a broken bowl with visible lines or something more beautiful for having lived through the experience.
Kintsugi artisan Yukiko Kuroda described it like this, “I’m restoring a piece of pottery, but I’m also restoring myself.”
Quest well.
The night is broken, and so am I. But you have spoken and stopped my cry. Alive and free, I’m thankful for thee - in love and caring for two.
My life is over and I am so far away from you and I don’t want to be so low and feeling lonely when you are far away from me. And my life’s torn and shattered. It takes its toll, unflattering. For now, now, now I’ve woken up. And I understand, that I am broken.
Something is driving me, moving me on. I’m so near, and yet, so far. It’s you and I, we’ll fight this together, and do or die for love.
I Am Broken, by Peter Stipan, written after one of my many trips to Japan which taught me about kint-sugi… golden joinery!
I’ve always loved kintsugi . I bought a kit to try and repair a pottery lamp my then dog with the zoomies, yet quickly came to realize that repair with gold is an art unto itself, and not my skill set.
I love these bowls tho