Consider the ancient Japanese art of kintsugi. When pottery breaks, the typical response is to repair it in a manner that masks the damage or discard it altogether. Kintsugi, on the other hand, embraces these imperfections by lacquering over the cracks with gold or silver. This doesn’t just mend the broken pottery; it visually accentuates the

The term wabi sabi suggests such qualities as impermanence, humility, asymmetry, and imperfection. These underlying principles are diametrically opposed to those of their Western counterparts, whose values are rooted in a Hellenic worldview that values permanence, grandeur, symmetry, and perfection.

Ichi-go ichi-e teaches us to focus on the present and enjoy each moment that life brings us. This is why it is so important to find and pursue our ikigai. Wabi-sabi teaches us to appreciate the beauty of imperfection as an opportunity for growth.