Had a little snow squall this morning. Kinda nice to view it from the warmth of my sun room. It's easier for me to appreciate beauty when I'm comfortable. Even appreciate the imperfections. I'm kinda in vogue with that idea at the moment. Wabi Sabi. Not to be confused with Wasabi. I'm seeing that concept pop up all around me lately. In blog posts. In photography classes I'm taking. In magazines I'm reading. I obviously hang with a hip crowd, for a housewife and mom.
Wabi Sabi - The Japanese ancient asthetic philosophy of appreciating
beauty in a naturally imperfect world. Rooted in Zen Buddhism.
Inhale deeply. Ohmmmmmm. Exhale.
"Imperfectly Perfect"
Ambler, Pennsylvania
Finding beauty in the ways things are. Imperfections and all. I think I'm in the prime demographic for embracing this particular concept. All I have to do is look in the mirror. Lines around my mouth. Dark circles under my eyes. An extra 10 pounds around my....well, in a PERFECT world that extra poundage would be in my bank account. Yep, kinda easy for a woman my age to expound the virtues of Wabi Sabi. The money saving possibilities are endless. Sundry face creams and washes, hair coloring and cuts, gym memberships, SPANX! Extra poundage in the ol' bank account IS a possibility.
Wabi Sabi possibilities. Those remnants of dog footprints traipsed across my hard wood floor? Yep. Just a reminder of the love my dogs have for me. The love is so profound they can't be bothered to wait for dry paws to run and jump up on me. Which reminds me to Wabi Sabi-love my paw print laden dirty jeans. Those clothes plopped on the chair in my bedroom? Yep, gotta love the Better Half. He is in such a rush to spend his evenings with moi once he gets home from work, he doesn't even have the time to put those clothes in the hamper after putting on his "lounge around the casa with his Wabi Sabi wife" clothes. Embracing it folks. TRYING to embrace it.
The person who has no problem AT ALL livin' la vida loca with Wabi Sabi, is the Wabi Sabi Princess herself...Thing #3. All ya have to do is take a gander at her bathroom to understand her sheer mastery. IF you can get the door open. It's obvious she is a pro. After all, she had her bedroom to practice on prior to moving on to the bathroom. Maybe Wabi Sabi is just a chic nouveau way of saying...lazy? Just puttin' it out there.
The art of imperfection. It's a conundrum. Photographically? Artistically? Yep, totally down with it. Personally? Wabi Sabi might not exactly be my cup of tea. Even if it is served in a tea cup that is beautifully aged with pantina, delicate cracks, and strategically placed chips. I'd photograph that particular tea cup in a nano second. But I wouldn't be comfortable metaphorically being that tea cup...
...not yet, at least. Not ruling it out in the future. But for today? I'm comfortable in my dog print free and mopped house. I'm comfortable "strongly suggesting" to the Better Half that he should put away his clothes. I'm comfortable with closing the door to Thing #3's bedroom AND bathroom so I don't impinge upon HER right to Wabi Sabi...but can live comfortably in MY world. I'm comfortable with my hair appointments, treadmill, hand weights, and anti-aging eye cream. And yes, I'm also comfortable appreciating and photographing the imperfectly perfect world I see around me. So maybe one person's "imperfect" is another's "perfect"? Can't we just all get along? Those who Wabi Sabi SHOULD love MY imperfections, right?
Type A, and trying to settle into SEMI WABI SABI (and yes, I gotta admit...at least the word is fun to say),
...not yet, at least. Not ruling it out in the future. But for today? I'm comfortable in my dog print free and mopped house. I'm comfortable "strongly suggesting" to the Better Half that he should put away his clothes. I'm comfortable with closing the door to Thing #3's bedroom AND bathroom so I don't impinge upon HER right to Wabi Sabi...but can live comfortably in MY world. I'm comfortable with my hair appointments, treadmill, hand weights, and anti-aging eye cream. And yes, I'm also comfortable appreciating and photographing the imperfectly perfect world I see around me. So maybe one person's "imperfect" is another's "perfect"? Can't we just all get along? Those who Wabi Sabi SHOULD love MY imperfections, right?
Type A, and trying to settle into SEMI WABI SABI (and yes, I gotta admit...at least the word is fun to say),
Here's where I "link up" today.
(click on image for description of Song-ography)
Next Tuesday's Song-ography title suggestion is "Thinking Out Loud" by Ed Sheeran.
Come back and link up! (blog, instagram, flickr photos welcome)
Come back and link up! (blog, instagram, flickr photos welcome)
Ha! Too funny! I'm going to wabi sabi my way to the hair stylist tomorrow to cover this gray hair popping out at the roots. Just a little something to put me in that zen state of mind. Love your perfectly imperfect photo!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot and love your thinking , as always in such a humorous way!
ReplyDeleteVery Wabi - Sabi, very good! Wonderfully photographed.
ReplyDeleteLove it. And so so fun to say!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I love the concept of wabi-sabi, never really thought of photographing it before but Kim's class is really teaching me to look at things differently. Glad to see we're in class together :-)
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful!
ReplyDeleteGreat shot!...and totally awesome, funny post! Here's to wabi sabi everywhere.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. And Yes it is a fun word to say.. Great shot my friend.
ReplyDeleteHugs~
Gorgeous. I never knew there was a word for my liking the imperfect. You learn something new every day.
ReplyDeleteA very funny word. I never knew this...thank you for teaching me.
ReplyDeleteI'm semi-down with the concept too. I love it in furniture, structures, pottery, and when it tells a story. Kids' rooms, not so much. But yeah, embracing imperfection is really where I'm at these days too.
ReplyDeleteOMG I have my new saying for the week! As well as for when I am running around town in my comfy's and ponytail.
ReplyDeleteGreat shot!
ReplyDeleteIt is the balance between the two that make the world go round. I have yet to master the close the door and pretend technique, but with all the clutter kiddo #1 has in the room "formerly known as her bedroom", I suspect this technique will be my sanity.
ReplyDeleteFun post - chic phrase - cool picture.
My potted Chrysanthemums are looking pretty wabi sabi right now. What more could they want, I put them in my sunniest window. I need more flowers.
ReplyDeleteI love this concept! Perfectly Imperfect is absolutely gorgeous! Jx
ReplyDeleteWonderful post, Kathy! And I agree wholeheartedly with all your sentiments concerning Wabi Sabi vs. Typ A and the wonderful imperfections of perfect images (and photos). One could almost say: It is an art. Right?! I also agree with continuing to make those hair dresser appointments - regularly, using anti-aging cream - very regularly etc. etc. at least for the time being. Of many years, I think. But who knows, things may change at any time.
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
I think I fall into that Wabi Sabi way of living real easily. I think it may have something to do with age and not looking for perfection any longer. Always enjoy your posts!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photo. I still have several boquets around that have completely dried. Lovely post.
ReplyDeleteTeresa @ Eden Hills
Gorgeous shot. I wish I had have been wabi-sabi-ing ages ago.
ReplyDeletewabi sabi should be taught in school! xo
ReplyDeleteLove it! Wabi sabi is my style. It's the imperfections that make everything perfectly beautiful! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
This is lovely! I think my best attempts at loving and living the wabi sabi principles were when I was doing a lot of pen and ink sketches. I couldn't get rid of the mistakes, so they had to become part of the whole...and they almost always worked out just the way they were supposed to!
ReplyDeleteJen - Pierced Wonderings
I looove your picture! And I've heard of wabi-sabi, but never had anyone really explain it before (and admittedly felt a little too shy to ask for clarification), what a great concept!! I've been trying to work on letting go of the illusion of perfection and this term perfect captures the sentiment. I think it may be my new favorite phrase.
ReplyDelete