I have a beautiful lamp that once belonged to a favoured aunt of mine. The base of the lamp is glass and designed to look as if you are looking into an aquarium, or a pond to be more accurate, with reeds and fish delicately embedded in the glass. It is one of my treasures.

Another favourite treasure of mine is a glass artisan bowl I bought for myself.

The lamp came to me with a discernible crack already in it. My beautiful bowl, mysteriously, in the way of nice things, just one day seemed to sprout its own crack. I have no idea how…  

Looking at those cracks used to fill me with chagrin and disappointment. I would be angry that more care hadn’t been taken. These feelings would extend to other items; antique china with tiny chips, Wedgwood bowls with my mother’s clumsy repairs to them, tiny Rosenthal liqueur glasses with chips out of the rim — too tiny to warrant throwing the glass away, but large enough not to serve them either…

Recently I stumbled across the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi. The idea of embracing the beauty of imperfections and understanding that nothing is permanent resonated with me.

I will leave further reading and research up to you, but for me, I can now look at those imperfections, large and small, and appreciate that these items have had a life of their own; they’ve passed through hands, careless and cautious both.

Just like our own lives. Never perfect, always cracked, still beautiful.

I hope you enjoyed reading this blog.  Your comments, questions, ideas and suggestions are always welcome.  You can comment here, or choose between Facebook, Twitter, or the contact button.  

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger.  I keep it short and to the point.  Topics are as wide ranging as a straight but not narrow path.