08. Begin Again

 
 

creative self-care

Acknowledging experiences from the past as the beauty in our future.

 
 

In Japanese culture, there is a creative process of repairing cracked ceramics called, Kintsugi. It is a traditional technique that involves joining broken fragments with lacquer and gold, leaving a shimmering seam where the cracks once were. The repaired piece celebrates it’s unique history by emphasizing its fractures and breaks instead of hiding or disguising them. The result is beautiful and gives the piece a new life.

What if we considered the same concept in our own lives?
Our personal histories make us who we are and influence our future. Regardless of how hard or ugly our past experiences may have been, they’ve played a part in who we’ve become and they have the ability to shape our lives into something even more beautiful than before.

 
 

PONDER

Not only is there no attempt to hide the damage, but the repair is literally illuminated.

⎯ UNKNOWN

MORNING ritual

Come back to yourself.
Before diving into each day, intentionally set aside three minutes to look directly into a mirror. Set a timer and disregard the urge to find purpose or action in this ritual. Simply gaze at the face before you and become familiar with your subtle presence. Release judgement. Try not to fix your hair or check your teeth. Simply connect with your appearance and reflect on who you are in this moment.

 

What happens when we create beauty from our flaws?

 
 

Expand your notion of the past ⎯

QUESTION:
ARE YOU THE SAME PERSON
YOU USED TO BE?

REPAIR:
KINTSUGI KIT

TAP (VIA THE APP):
BROKEN IS BEAUTIFUL

JOURNEY:
BE HERE NOW

 
 

monthly therapeutic activity: TORN PAPER TRANSFORMATION

Examples shown above display two different approaches to the activity. Black paper and white pencil is only one option. Get creative with your choices.

Materials: Sketchbook, paper of any color, writing tool(s) of any color(s), glue stick or other adhesive.

  1. Select a piece of paper that is any color of your choice.

  2. Choose a writing tool (or several) in any color as well.

  3. Spend some time writing down key words or phrases that embody experiences from your past that you wish to let go of or move on from. These could include past trauma, regretful decisions, negative thoughts or people, destructive behavior, etc. If you’ve chosen more than one color to write with, consider writing down each experience in a different hue.

  4. When you have filled your paper with thoughts, begin to tear it up into different sizes and shapes.

  5. Adhere the pieces onto a page of your sketchbook in any shape or form that feels good. If you find you have gaps in your art piece that bother you, you may choose to fill them in with color, similar to the Kintsugi method.

The resulting art piece gives new life to the experiences of the past.

 

Laina Miller is an Artist, Creative Wellness Consultant, and Social Emotional Arts Instructor. All viewpoints, activities, and insights expressed were generated from personal and professional experience and bolstered by favorite readings, teachers, and mentors. The aforementioned have been cited wherever possible. For additional support, please reach out to a trusted mental health advisor.

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