Not Broken

We are all a little broken. And that's OK. If we had no wear and tear then we'd have no stories to tell. Every now and then we’re knocked out for the count. If, when we’re knocked out, we are willing to go through the rehab and get back in the ring, we return more intelligent, driven, and given enough time, stronger. While they may not look as nice, the scars are tougher than the original skin, and the drive from failure inspires us to push harder than before.

There is a Japanese art form that doubles as a symbol for pushing through adversity: kintsukuroi. It translates to English as “to repair with gold”. It offers the philosophy that after we are broken, we may not only return to where we were before, but surpass it. We can become more beautiful and stronger through the process.

As an author I love storytelling. As a critic the most compelling stories contain that third act moment where all appears hopeless. There is no way to win, no way to overcome the conflict and find a resolution. That is when the moment of clarity hits our hero, who then fights stronger and smarter than before to become victorious.

With kintsukuroi, the true life of the bowl began the moment it was dropped. When life knocks you down, and you’re feeling vulnerable or lost, remember you are the hero of your own story, and your story is just beginning.