I could almost have posted this on Wednesday as a wordless response to Rarasaur‘s first weekly Prompt for the Promptless Wabi-Sabi, but I post so many photos of Wilson, another picture needs another explanation!
I had not delved into the meaning of Wabi-Sabi before this evening, but it reads as a great concept that I fail to come close to on an hourly basis, let alone as a way of approaching life.
“Wabi-sabi is a way of seeing the world that is at the heart of Japanese culture. It finds beauty and harmony in what is simple, imperfect, modest, natural, and mysterious. It can be a little dark, but it is also warm and comfortable. It may be best understood as a feeling, rather than as an idea.” – Mark Reibstein and Ed YoungI strive for perfection on a daily basis, and therefore am doomed to fail before I open my eyes, as I am a human being, and therefore imperfect, and I am Barbara, and therefore even more so!!
If I had more of an attitude in tune with the way things are, rather than the way I want them to be, I would be a lot more content and a lot more fun to live with!
Instead I throw my toys out of the pram when I feel I am not good enough, or when I feel others are in the way of me being perfect, and I smother my family with blame for my imperfections, coming back to the tired old line “If only they would all just go away & leave me alone….”
I am immodest, I over complicate things, I am unharmonious, I would like to find beauty in what is simple, imperfect, natural, and mysterious, but imperfect is hard for me.
Wilson on the other hand is a little dark, but it is also warm and comfortable. He also finds beauty in everything simple, imperfect, natural, and especially mysterious! He has mastered the art of Wabi-Sabi before he wakes up every morning, and now he is trying to teach me. 🙂 Muddy footprints through my freshly hoovered house are just one small way he reminds me to learn to accept the imperfect.
Wilson loves water…. what’s a little mud between friends?
Finally, my favourite line from the Step 3 prayer; ‘Relieve me of the bondage of self’ I really need to be reminded of this more often! Thanks Rarasaur.
Day One 
My dear pet lamb, just focus on one of your talents (and you have plenty) today. Find an empty jam jar, write the talent on a piece of paper and at the end of the day put it in the jar. Repeat tomorrow with another one. Then watch the jar fill up. You can report back to me at the end of a month! Here endeth my lecture! 😉
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What a good idea!
Now…. where have I put my empty jam jar’s ?
Will post an update on March 21st!
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I look forward to it!
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Great! Now smile plenty.
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Haha, that jam jar is brilliant, absolutely brilliant! 😀
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A lovely idea isn’t it, will post updates soon. Probably an exercise all of us should do from time to time
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Great suggestion by GM. “Relieve me of the bondage of self,” I love this.
blessings ~ maxi
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It’s a line from the AA Step 3 prayer;
God of my understanding, I offer myself to you – to build with me and to do with me as you will. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do your will. Take away my difficulties that victory over them may show those I would help of your Power, your Love, and your way of life. May I do your will always.
I could do with reading it a bit more often!! 🙂
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Great post. As a fellow recovering perfectionist, I can relate. GM is a very smart woman!
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Recovering perfectionist, I like that 🙂
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Pingback: Perfectly Imperfect; Imperfectly Perfect « Cheri Speak
Wilson sounds like an caring and effective guru! 🙂 What a charming post! 😀 Thanks for participating in Prompts for the Promptless! 🙂
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In at the start, now I will have to participate every week 🙂
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