Say it with me: Wabi Sabi, Wabi Sabi, Wabi Sabi.
I love saying this as much as I adore its meaning.
One of my favorite cultures from which I gain a lot of interior design and fashion inspiration is the Japanese. I vibe off of the simplicity, sophistication and natural way of design. Even Apple’s legendary former CEO Steve Jobs was inspired by the culture and streamlined simplicity into the Apple devices and packaging we see today.
Wabi Sabi is the Japanese philosophy of “finding the perfect in the imperfect.” No matter what kind of design, from interiors to the design of your life, this way of being is essentially, well, being in the flow and making the most of life.
So how can implementing the Wabi Sabi way welcome more beauty, simplicity and flow into your everyday life, in and out of your home? It’s simpler than you think:
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My mission is to inspire you to be present to the beauty around you and feel it inside you, which is the essence of the Wabi Sabi way. If you’re an interior design geek like me, you’ll love one of my favorite books, “Wabi-Sabi Welcome” by Julie Pointer Adams. She breaks down how to welcome your guests and create a chill environment and go-with-the-flow attitude when it comes to entertaining guests.
For example, if you’re expecting six people at the table and a guest brings another person unexpectedly, instead of getting your linen napkins in a bunch, the Wabi Sabi way would be to just welcome them and set up an additional place setting. Let it go. Go with it. Chill out.
Think about how this Wabi Sabi way can be implemented into your day-to-day life and do one simple thing to take a step in this direction. You’ll be surprised at how simple and effective this is once you see and feel the results. For example, when a meeting runs late, a date has to reschedule or challenges come your way. I believe challenges are here to teach us something and Wabi Sabi is the perfect perspective to adopt when things don’t seem to go your way.
For me it’s a spiritual thing — and a spiritual practice. It’s simple, stylish and so-chic to be Wabi Sabi.
Extra Extra
Check out the book I mentioned: “Wabi-Sabi Welcome” by Julie Pointer Adams. The message and info are as beautiful as the book’s texture, bound cover and images.
If you learned something new about the Wabi Sabi way or if you want help with a design issue, hit me up in the comments below. Sharing is caring, so hit that follow button and share this with your peeps.
Onward,
Toan