W a B i S a B i

—Clarissa P. Estes on Wabi Sabi

Over a year ago, my incredibly talented cousin painted this apple. She couldn’t stand it. She was going to throw it away. “No!” I exclaimed. I’ve hung onto this apple since that day. It’s been in various boxes and art bins around my house just waiting for it’s moment.

I read this quote by Clarissa P. Estes awhile back on an email from Danielle LaPorte and it rattled me.  A few days later, I got another email from someone talking about Wabi Sabi. And then a few days later I was cleaning and organizing out my things and found this apple. I wrote the concept of Wabi Sabi on there and put it above my sink where I wash the dishes. I have been struggling as a mother of three, with waiting for the “perfect” time to create, with or without my kids. I wait for the “perfect” time to sit down and write. I wait for the “perfect” time to meet up with a friend. I wait for the “perfect” time to make a craft with the kids. To tell you the truth, I am realizing that there is no perfect. Sometimes it feels better than others. Sometimes my “plans” are laid and it does work out. But other times, it’s spontaneous and the kids want to make something out of a toilet paper roll while I’m in the middle of unloading the dishwasher, folding three loads of laundry, cleaning up the dress up clothes, and drinking my lemon water and haven’t even had breakfast. And so I put my foot down do my shoulds and mental lists.  I create with the kids in chaos and it feels so. darn. good. And then the kids were filled up. And I felt creative. And nothing bad happened while the dishes or laundry sat for an extra 30 minutes.