my wabi-sabi world

wikipedia defines wabi-sabi as "a comprehensive japanese worldview or aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience.  the aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is 'imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.'  it is a concept derived from the buddhist assertion of ... impermanence."

well that is what i am going to call my transient state of affairs at the moment - wabi-sabi.   it isn't perfect but it isn't permanent.  it is all temporary.  our studio space living quarters that we are gratefully squatting in for a month or so is filled with the furniture that was there as well as some of our own.  we took out some of ezra's toys he hasn't seen in two years from storage.  there are no table and chairs, so ezra ate his cereal in bed this morning - laying down hiding his face behind his hand from the camera.  now you see me, now you don't!  my mom brought over a clothes rack to hang some of our clothes up beside which michael's paintings are stacked up against the wall and his guitar sits in its case.  finding space to do yoga everyday has been a challenge as well as not stepping on toys that haven't yet been put away.  we're spending more of our time outside these days so michael can study without being disturbed.  he is in full force study mode until he takes the usmle step 1 exam on may 5th.  for those who don't know, that is the united states medical licensing examination.  we look forward to his big break from studying that will begin after he takes the exam and finally have some quality family time again!  although that too is impermanent.  we enjoy each moment for what it has to bring.  we are finding a lot of peace in togetherness with extended family members, the comfort of living all on the same property - just knowing everyone is there - with 4 generations of family.  there has been a lot of joyous moments with the animals, playing with them, petting them, watching them, and just being with them.  

i wrote this post to bring attention to my fellow blogger ren of lady of the arts, who is doing a series of wabi-sabi posts by some of her blog followers, including myself.  here is the post in which i shared some pictures of my wabi-sabi world before moving to america from st. maarten this month.  

http://ladyofthearts.blogspot.com/2011/04/wabi-sabi-anushka.html  

i hope you enjoy taking a look at ren's blog.  she shares her knowledge of practical things like feng shui, uses for garden herbs, traditional chinese medicine, as well as showcasing contemporary artists, authors and filmmakers.  along with those types of entries there are posts here and there that show a bit of what's going on in her own world and that of her two young monkeys she and her husband live with.  the coolest thing about my connection with ren is that she and her husband and at least one of her monkeys also lived on st. maarten, where her husband went to the same school as mine.  we have only met however in blogland as that was many years before us.  i'm so glad she stopped by my original blog at journey to say hello.  thanks ren for including me in the wabi-sabi series.