Why Being Imperfect Is The New Perfect

Striving for perfection is so 2017.

- Danielle Kam

I‘m not going to lie —I really struggled with writing this feature. I wrote three different intros but, being the perfectionist that I am, I didn’t think any of them were good enough. And quite frankly, this one probably isn’t much better, but I’ve decided I’m OK with that, because I’m embracing wabi-sabi. It’s not a side order for your sushi; it’s an ancient Japanese philosophy that embraces all things imperfect and encourages you to find delight in the simpler things— like peanut butter on sourdough instead of fancy unicorn toast.

“Wabi-sabi is modest and humble. It’s well-worn jeans, weathered wood, or an unrestored antique chest,” says Leonard Koren, author of Wabi-Sabi for Artists, Designers, Poets & Philosophers. But before you dash out to your local ukay to grab some cracked plates and pre-loved clothing, it goes deeper than just how you decorate your home.

THE WABI-SABI LIFE

In an age when we’re all so concerned about gaining more possessions and getting ahead in life, wabi-sabi is about taking a step back and going with the flow,” says Amanda Gruhn, a Gestalt psychotherapist.