Wabi Sabi...

I came across the most interesting article about the principle of Wabi Sabi, in Whole Living magazine... the subject line said --
Simple strategies for embracing imperfection.

The article describes the Japanese philosophy as a way of celebrating beauty in what is natural -- flaws and all.
Wabi Sabi is the Japanese world view or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience... sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete"... which is a concept derived from the Buddhist assertion of the 3 marks of existence.
The article explains that Wabi is literally translated as simplicity, and Sabi is the beauty of age and wear. It's about embracing and really appreciating the beauty of what is natural... Freedom to accept the imperfect world. Reading that lots of images immediately come to mind. Perfectly well-worn old jeans... rustic wood floors... hand-me-down mismatched dishes with delicate floral borders... faded hand written letters and postcards... a lovingly salvaged kitchen table spray painted bright yellow by my dad in the barn...

Authenticity is a main theme of this principle...uncovering what is distinctive about you and highlighting that. Wabi sabi encourages thought and purpose behind each object. In order to truly appreciate what we have, we should find it beautiful and useful. Thus creating an environment of tranquility & harmony... then allowing that to flow into all areas of your life.

It amazes me how traveling to a new place gives me a fresh new perspective immediately... so refreshing and perfect and totally inspiring.

I'm in Upstate New York and this charming little town, Hamilton, is beautiful in it's charm and simplicity. Within an hour or so out of the city, everything looked and felt totally different. Serene, calm and breathtakingly pretty. It's funny because I did not even realized how tense I was until I came here... We are staying at a quaint hotel right in the center of town called the Colgate Inn.
Philip was at his conference all day yesterday so I spent my day wandering aimlessly and blissfully through these hills, arriving upon more gorgeous tiny farm villages. One of which I found an entire town devoted to antiques, (is this a sign?!) Bouckville, NY. I acquired some fun souvenirs for myself -- vintage photograph postcards of Hamilton, a perfect blue Ball Mason Jar with a wire hinge top and a lucite and crystal ring (Alexis Bittar inspired) from the sixties.
After antiquing, I made my way back to Hamilton, and it started pouring rain as I was walking around the main street. I hopped into Sushi Blues and ordered some soup and an avocado roll...only to begin chatting with the owners - a couple so lively, warm, quirky, funny and self described as the "craziest restaurant in town." The food was great, and after my meal we got to talking. I told them I was on my own because Philip was here for work, and they promptly invited me to hang out with them the next day! First to meet them at their stables, where they introduced me to their stunning horse, Princess...

Followed by breakfast with them at Judy's Diner, in Sherburne, where above the grill a sign reads "I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow doesn't look good either."

Yeah, this place feels like home.