What’s the Buzz? Exuberant Imperfection
Exuberant Imperfection
“One of the basic rules of the universe is that nothing is perfect. Perfection simply doesn't exist.....Without imperfection, neither you nor I would exist”
-Stephen Hawking
As I searched my archive of photos, I found many “flawed” flowers, insects and scenes. Some were photos of the last dry leaf clinging to a tree, some were blossoms a bit dried around the edges.
I felt like that, too, that I was a little worn out here and there but had some quite nice bits as well.
I searched for famous quotes about the beauty of flaws. What I found was many hundreds of passages and quotes but all shared a commonality- the notion that imperfections were errors.
They spoke of overlooking imperfections, of loving a person in spite of an imperfection or perceived notion of one, of looking at our bodies and accepting our imperfections. I knew I didn’t want to ‘accept imperfections” I want to celebrate them.
I discovered I have a deep love for imperfections. I have fun practicing exuberant imperfection when I write , I often let the words just burst from me, falling onto the page in ajumble of misspellings and bad punctuation. I may have to go back again and again to tidy things up but I have found some pretty good ideas can spring from taking the risk to create something quite messy.
Shoshin (初心) is a Zen Buddhist word meaning "beginner's mind." It refers to having an attitude of openness, eagerness, and lack of preconceptions when looking at a subject, a person, or even a job, with fresh eyes every time.
In that spirit, I offer up some photos of the perfection I have found in the imperfect and beautiful outdoors of our lovely state.
I’m sure I’ll share more elegant photos along the way, but for today I am not in the mood to be that precious and want to celebrate the glorious world of exuberant imperfection that surrounds us all.
(And especially my own flawed and lovely world....)