Without the need for a tattoo to represent it on the outside, you are already a true lioness, brave and strong, and you have shown it with the years that you have been fighting this terrible disease.
I am sure that all the people around you who know of your struggle see you adorned with the best glitter of gold and precious stones, which cover the scars of your wounds, both physical and emotional.
I recently watched a documentary about this technique, and I was amazed by the beauty of the restored objects, but above all by the philosophy that this art contains, reconstructing a precious piece from something broken, transforming something that could be useless into a precious object, and not hiding the damage or camouflaging the wounds, but making them visible, perhaps also so as not to lose a reference of what it was and what it has become.
Surely the most difficult scars to treat are the emotional ones, they can be much deeper and more painful, they require more time, that is why I hope and wish that you get a good medical team again, that takes care of you as the one that has been with you for so many years has done, and that they help you heal your scars, that they cover them with gold material as well.
By the way, I loved the new layers that you added to the canvas, you also have the art and the ability to beautify things, congratulations.
Thank you so much for your eloquent, kind words. You make an excellent point: that courage and strength comes from within. I so appreciate your insights and support.
I know I am lucky to have survived this disease thus far. I never take my health for granted, and I'm sure that I will get a medical team in place. And you are so right about emotional scars being more challenging to cope with than the physical scars. All the scars are reminders of the trauma.
Thank you for saying I am a "true lioness." I think often, we as individuals tend to underestimate our courage and strength.
That documentary you saw on this art form sounds fabulous. It is amazing to think how beautiful that art is. The idea of taking something broken and making it whole with gold outlining the cracks so we viewers don't forget them is really genius.
And I so appreciate your kind words about the quality of my artwork. I do love creating and reworking art on canvas. It's fun, albeit challenging. And thank you so much for being such a loyal reader. Your comments are always first-rate.
THIS: "I may not have physical decorations on my body, but turning my soul outward toward art is a type of kintsugi at its best." The healing image of brokenness being filled with the gold of creativity, speaks to my heart.
I love the way the castle in the sky is turning out -- its imperfect slant and the reaching spirals you've added. The painting is a beautiful metaphor to compliment your essay. You've made me pause and muse ... that the beauty we seek is not in some polished perfection, but found in our scars and broken pieces. I continue to be moved and inspired by your words and images. Your post made me think of this Mary Oliver poem:
Stephanie, thank you so much for your readership and insights. I love Mary Oliver, and I love the poem you shared. Thank you.
Appreciating our brokenness makes us better understand life and our purpose in the world, I think. I used to be a perfectionist, but I've learned to let go of that lofty ideal and accept -- even treasure -- imperfection.
Yes, it’s the idea of treasuring our imperfections that seems so appealing, Beth. Where do lofty ideals get us anyway — it’s the preciousness of the struggle and transformative force of such that I think helps us to grow. Big hugs and write on!
Beth this is such a powerful posting and the idea of celebrating the brokenness of anything with gold bonding really is something so delightful and so moving. I understand that in the Japanese way of thinking there is this notion of Wabi-Sabi. With this concept we see three trends acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect—all this bravely embraces the metaphor that is life. I have often thought of my past and present relationships as broken vessels—perfect in their imperfection—and bearing their marks of shatteredness. This Kintsugi, which is a newname for an art form I have always loved, empowers me to keep writing, to keep embracing my craft with all of its detours and mistakes. Thank you once again Beth for allowing the process of making art to keep us supple and alive and unafraid of becoming more.
Hi Gerry, thank you for your kind words about my latest post. I love the "nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect" idea. It completely is spot on. That is the way life is. As someone who has historically veered toward perfectionism, I am now embracing my imperfectionism. And it is very refreshing to let go and understand that we should embrace the ebbs and flows of our lives and our art.
I am so glad that you have writing. It is a gift that is priceless, and you honor your craft by regularly showing up to the page -- paper and/or virtual. All any of us can do is show up, and the universe will bless our efforts.
Beth, this whole piece is just beautiful. I am inspired but the way you think about and describe your scars, and I can so relate to the “meh” provider. And I’m enjoying watching the unfolding of your art!
I had not heard of Kintsugi. I love how a cracked piece of pottery or a statue can be transformed into a reworked piece of art and become valued, at least in part, because of those filled-in cracks. What a concept. The way you tied this idea to your breast cancer treatment scars is brilliant. I'll need to think about this a bit more because I have an awful lot of those "cracks"!
For me, writing, being outdoors, spending time with my family and pets, reading, and even watching Netflix are a few ways I fill in my cracks. I guess anything that takes us to a different place or a more relaxed frame of mind can help fill those cracks little by little. I know I say it all the time, but I'm so glad you have your art to help you.
The painting is coming along nicely. I very much like the rolling hills, and I'm glad you left the spires crooked. Like Alene said, that adds more emotion. Thanks for your wise words and for sharing the progress on your painting.
Lastly, I hope your new care team comes together in time. We all deserve more than a "meh" sort of primary doctor, that's for sure. Maybe the relationship will improve with time. Hope so.
Thank you for your high compliment and perceptive insights. All of your activities are wonderful and relaxing. Self-care is so important to help us cope with the cracks. Filling them in is no easy task; that's for sure.
I thank my lucky stars that I've continued with art. When I was a child, I always gravitated toward art, but I never was serious about it. Art didn't play a huge role in my life until after breast cancer and my divorce. I think I was hurting really badly, so I reached out to take those oil painting lessons. And I'm so glad I did!
Thanks for your feedback on my castle painting. I so appreciate it.
I feel confident that I will eventually find the right healthcare providers. I have to be patient and know it takes time. It's easy for me to get frustrated, but I have to practice and re-learn patience.
I have seen images of Kintsugi before, but never knew it had a name. I love it. Filling the cracks with a beautiful glue, and you’re right, we all have them. I would say that my own forms of filling the cracks are being outdoors and moving through the landscape on foot, art, and my dogs. And journaling or therapy.
The draft painting is looking great. I’m glad you kept the spires from being straight. It adds more emotion to the viewer’s experience. The small windows in the back look good too, and the varied layers of green. I look forward to seeing what you add for more greenery.
Keeping our mental health intact so we can function and experience joy in life is more than a full-time job! Life is adversity, and being able to acknowledge that publicly is an act of courage. Social media would often have us believe otherwise- that we are flawed compared to others and not keeping up.
I’m sorry you got a mediocre new doctor. So disappointing. I trust that you will find better healthcare practitioners as you search. They are out there. I wish there could be a way to avoid spending all that time, money, and energy trying to find them!
Thank you for your comment. Yes, Kintsugi is truly beautiful, and I can totally understand why it has become a metaphor. Your ways of filling in the cracks are great, and from what I read from your Substack, I can tell how much you love the outdoors, art, and your pups. Thanks for bringing up journaling. Lately, journaling for me has fallen by the wayside, and I feel more complete when I journal, so I need to get back to it.
I agree that mental health issues are so important. It seems that, although mental health issues are getting more air time than before, there's still a lack of discussion about mental health. There is clearly still a stigma. People like to gloss over such issues, but they exist and will continue to exist. I wish we were a kinder, gentler society; it would make mental health discussions a lot more liberating.
I will keep seeing different doctors until I hit the jackpot. I know great ones are there.
Thanks for your kind words about my painting draft. I so appreciate your feedback.
Hello Beth!
Without the need for a tattoo to represent it on the outside, you are already a true lioness, brave and strong, and you have shown it with the years that you have been fighting this terrible disease.
I am sure that all the people around you who know of your struggle see you adorned with the best glitter of gold and precious stones, which cover the scars of your wounds, both physical and emotional.
I recently watched a documentary about this technique, and I was amazed by the beauty of the restored objects, but above all by the philosophy that this art contains, reconstructing a precious piece from something broken, transforming something that could be useless into a precious object, and not hiding the damage or camouflaging the wounds, but making them visible, perhaps also so as not to lose a reference of what it was and what it has become.
Surely the most difficult scars to treat are the emotional ones, they can be much deeper and more painful, they require more time, that is why I hope and wish that you get a good medical team again, that takes care of you as the one that has been with you for so many years has done, and that they help you heal your scars, that they cover them with gold material as well.
By the way, I loved the new layers that you added to the canvas, you also have the art and the ability to beautify things, congratulations.
Hi Javier,
Thank you so much for your eloquent, kind words. You make an excellent point: that courage and strength comes from within. I so appreciate your insights and support.
I know I am lucky to have survived this disease thus far. I never take my health for granted, and I'm sure that I will get a medical team in place. And you are so right about emotional scars being more challenging to cope with than the physical scars. All the scars are reminders of the trauma.
Thank you for saying I am a "true lioness." I think often, we as individuals tend to underestimate our courage and strength.
That documentary you saw on this art form sounds fabulous. It is amazing to think how beautiful that art is. The idea of taking something broken and making it whole with gold outlining the cracks so we viewers don't forget them is really genius.
And I so appreciate your kind words about the quality of my artwork. I do love creating and reworking art on canvas. It's fun, albeit challenging. And thank you so much for being such a loyal reader. Your comments are always first-rate.
THIS: "I may not have physical decorations on my body, but turning my soul outward toward art is a type of kintsugi at its best." The healing image of brokenness being filled with the gold of creativity, speaks to my heart.
I love the way the castle in the sky is turning out -- its imperfect slant and the reaching spirals you've added. The painting is a beautiful metaphor to compliment your essay. You've made me pause and muse ... that the beauty we seek is not in some polished perfection, but found in our scars and broken pieces. I continue to be moved and inspired by your words and images. Your post made me think of this Mary Oliver poem:
Someone I loved once gave me
a box full of darkness.
It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.
“The Uses of Sorrow” by Mary Oliver
Stephanie, thank you so much for your readership and insights. I love Mary Oliver, and I love the poem you shared. Thank you.
Appreciating our brokenness makes us better understand life and our purpose in the world, I think. I used to be a perfectionist, but I've learned to let go of that lofty ideal and accept -- even treasure -- imperfection.
Yes, it’s the idea of treasuring our imperfections that seems so appealing, Beth. Where do lofty ideals get us anyway — it’s the preciousness of the struggle and transformative force of such that I think helps us to grow. Big hugs and write on!
Beth this is such a powerful posting and the idea of celebrating the brokenness of anything with gold bonding really is something so delightful and so moving. I understand that in the Japanese way of thinking there is this notion of Wabi-Sabi. With this concept we see three trends acknowledging three simple realities: nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect—all this bravely embraces the metaphor that is life. I have often thought of my past and present relationships as broken vessels—perfect in their imperfection—and bearing their marks of shatteredness. This Kintsugi, which is a newname for an art form I have always loved, empowers me to keep writing, to keep embracing my craft with all of its detours and mistakes. Thank you once again Beth for allowing the process of making art to keep us supple and alive and unafraid of becoming more.
Hi Gerry, thank you for your kind words about my latest post. I love the "nothing lasts, nothing is finished, and nothing is perfect" idea. It completely is spot on. That is the way life is. As someone who has historically veered toward perfectionism, I am now embracing my imperfectionism. And it is very refreshing to let go and understand that we should embrace the ebbs and flows of our lives and our art.
I am so glad that you have writing. It is a gift that is priceless, and you honor your craft by regularly showing up to the page -- paper and/or virtual. All any of us can do is show up, and the universe will bless our efforts.
Beth, this whole piece is just beautiful. I am inspired but the way you think about and describe your scars, and I can so relate to the “meh” provider. And I’m enjoying watching the unfolding of your art!
Thank you so much, Cherie! I guess there always is that "meh" provider. I'm so glad you are enjoying my art. I really appreciate you!
Hi Beth,
I had not heard of Kintsugi. I love how a cracked piece of pottery or a statue can be transformed into a reworked piece of art and become valued, at least in part, because of those filled-in cracks. What a concept. The way you tied this idea to your breast cancer treatment scars is brilliant. I'll need to think about this a bit more because I have an awful lot of those "cracks"!
For me, writing, being outdoors, spending time with my family and pets, reading, and even watching Netflix are a few ways I fill in my cracks. I guess anything that takes us to a different place or a more relaxed frame of mind can help fill those cracks little by little. I know I say it all the time, but I'm so glad you have your art to help you.
The painting is coming along nicely. I very much like the rolling hills, and I'm glad you left the spires crooked. Like Alene said, that adds more emotion. Thanks for your wise words and for sharing the progress on your painting.
Lastly, I hope your new care team comes together in time. We all deserve more than a "meh" sort of primary doctor, that's for sure. Maybe the relationship will improve with time. Hope so.
Hi Nancy,
Thank you for your high compliment and perceptive insights. All of your activities are wonderful and relaxing. Self-care is so important to help us cope with the cracks. Filling them in is no easy task; that's for sure.
I thank my lucky stars that I've continued with art. When I was a child, I always gravitated toward art, but I never was serious about it. Art didn't play a huge role in my life until after breast cancer and my divorce. I think I was hurting really badly, so I reached out to take those oil painting lessons. And I'm so glad I did!
Thanks for your feedback on my castle painting. I so appreciate it.
I feel confident that I will eventually find the right healthcare providers. I have to be patient and know it takes time. It's easy for me to get frustrated, but I have to practice and re-learn patience.
I have seen images of Kintsugi before, but never knew it had a name. I love it. Filling the cracks with a beautiful glue, and you’re right, we all have them. I would say that my own forms of filling the cracks are being outdoors and moving through the landscape on foot, art, and my dogs. And journaling or therapy.
The draft painting is looking great. I’m glad you kept the spires from being straight. It adds more emotion to the viewer’s experience. The small windows in the back look good too, and the varied layers of green. I look forward to seeing what you add for more greenery.
Keeping our mental health intact so we can function and experience joy in life is more than a full-time job! Life is adversity, and being able to acknowledge that publicly is an act of courage. Social media would often have us believe otherwise- that we are flawed compared to others and not keeping up.
I’m sorry you got a mediocre new doctor. So disappointing. I trust that you will find better healthcare practitioners as you search. They are out there. I wish there could be a way to avoid spending all that time, money, and energy trying to find them!
Hi Alene,
Thank you for your comment. Yes, Kintsugi is truly beautiful, and I can totally understand why it has become a metaphor. Your ways of filling in the cracks are great, and from what I read from your Substack, I can tell how much you love the outdoors, art, and your pups. Thanks for bringing up journaling. Lately, journaling for me has fallen by the wayside, and I feel more complete when I journal, so I need to get back to it.
I agree that mental health issues are so important. It seems that, although mental health issues are getting more air time than before, there's still a lack of discussion about mental health. There is clearly still a stigma. People like to gloss over such issues, but they exist and will continue to exist. I wish we were a kinder, gentler society; it would make mental health discussions a lot more liberating.
I will keep seeing different doctors until I hit the jackpot. I know great ones are there.
Thanks for your kind words about my painting draft. I so appreciate your feedback.