Honoring the cracks

The Japanese art of kintsugi repairs broken pottery by filling its cracks with powdered gold or silver. Rather than hiding the damage, it honors it. The mended piece is often considered stronger, more beautiful, and more valuable than it was before it broke.

What broke me was a cancer diagnosis.

For others, it may be a divorce, the loss of a parent or a child, a burnout, depression, or another life-altering challenge. Sooner or later, life cracks us all.

And yet, here I am.

After sixteen rounds of chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, and a year marked by uncertainty, fear, and loss, I emerged with three gifts I never expected to receive:

First, a reminder of who and what truly matters during the brief time I have on this earth;

Second, the certainty that I am worthy of love, even when I am not convenient or performing at my best;

Third, the revelation that I have an ocean of resilience within myself. I am capable of so much.

With these lessons in hand, I am stepping into the next chapter of my life with curiosity, gratitude, and a sense of wonder.

Over the next twelve months, I am giving myself permission to slow down, to heal, to explore, and to redefine what success means on my own terms.

This space is a record of that journey.

I don't yet know exactly what I will become.

But I cannot wait to find out.

In the meantime, if you have an idea of how you would use your precious time if you were taking a break, whether it being a recipe to cook, a book to read, a 30-day challenge to try out, feel free to send your idea at ideas@rebuiltwithjoy.com