094: You Could Use Some Wabi-Sabi as You Age

It's amazing to me how reading an unrelated article provides inspiration for useful insight about aging.

I was browsing my article feed on Medium and came across an article about the case-less use of an iPhone.

Actually, I'm a fan and follower of the writer who writes on all things Apple.

In fact, he's among the reasons I'm also a case-less iPhone user.

Yep, I'm among those bold (or crazy) enough to carry a buck-naked iPhone (don't judge me).

I mean, why cover up what I consider to be a masterpiece of design and technological excellence.

Before you start clutching-your-pearls about my phone's nudity, that's not my point here.

My point is that within his tech-themed article was a timeless philosophical principle that I believe has strong significance to whether or not you thrive in your aging journey.

I was inspired by the above mentioned writer's reference to an ancient Japanese philosophy called, "wabi-sabi."

He primarily applied it to case-less iPhone usage - with some practical, philosophical seeds thrown in here and there.

I choose to plant those seeds in your mind relative to your aging mindset.

First, let's define wabi-sabi.

As a philosophy it confirms three simple truths:

• Impermanence (nothing lasts - physically, that is)
• Imperfection (nothing is perfect)
• Incompleteness (nothing is truly finished)

Applying some wabi-sabi to your life will enable you to face the realities of aging with greater confidence, poise, courage, and creativity

• Accept impermanence
• Embrace imperfection
• Celebrate incompleteness

Accept impermanence

Ours is an age of denial.

We know time is fleeting but we live believing tomorrow will always greet us.

Hopefully, it will for many sunrises to come but life is truly "a mist" - here one moment and gone the next.

It's not my intention to be all doom-and-gloom, though I would invite you to truly accept the fact that time does indeed change things.

Everything ebbs and flows.

Tides rise and subside.

Leaves turn green one season, then yellow or orange in the next before falling to the ground.

You live hoping permanence will somehow keep you young-looking and flexible.

What if you could adjust your perspective slightly and begin to see that impermanence actually adds to the beauty of life...and aging.

The glow of a sunset is beautiful and colorful though we know that it will vanish as the sun dips further below the horizon.

So, we fully enjoy it while is glows.

Accepting impermanence could mean:

• Living in the moment - seeing what's in view and holding onto it.
• Making moments matter - knowing that the here and now is all that's guaranteed.
• Leveraging your moments into a legacy - trusting that your influence will outlast you.

Embrace imperfection

It's common to obsess over perfection.

AI enhanced photos...flawless skin...picture-perfect vacation photos...social media highlights - perfection dominates our lives.

But perfection isn't the end game because it lacks soul.

Imperfection, on the other hand, reveals character, heart, and...soul!

"It's the reason a weathered wooden bench feels warmer than a glossy plastic chair. It’s why a chipped ceramic mug can mean more to us than a shiny, untouched one from a store."1

Why is anything vintage considered to be popular or trendy?

It's the imperfection - the fading, the holes, the frayed edges that appear stylish.

The same is true for you as you age.

Your frayed edges - physically, emotionally, and experientially are glorious imperfections that reveal how fiercely and courageously you've aged.

• Showcase your scars - they reveal what you've endured and overcome.
• Own your mistakes - failure is a great teacher.
• Treasure your flaws - it's a tribute to your uniqueness.

Celebrate incompleteness

Life isn't neat and tidy.

It's basically an occasionally messy work in progress.

Technology requires routine updates and so do you.

Remember, you're not done until you are.

I've discovered that writing such as this is an ongoing process.

I write, edit, revise and then sometimes hesitantly press "send."

My creativity thrives on incompleteness.

It's critical to the aging journey that you're comfortable with knowing that when you reach the finish line there's still more you could have accomplished - otherwise you've long since stopped living your life.

• What do you want to accomplish that you have yet to try?
• What's stopping you from taking the next step?
• What can you do today to make progress?

A wabi-sabi perspective enables you to accept that life is a work in progress and nothing is ever lasting, perfect, or finished

• Accept impermanence
• Embrace imperfection
• Celebrate incompleteness

Press on...

Eddie

Sources:

1-https://medium.com/macoclock/caseless-iphone-wabi-sabi-living-3af5046d3c4b