8 • June 2016 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC. WORDPLAY “KINTSUKUROI”


Santa Rosa, CA. ~ [keen- tsoo-koo-roy] Kintsukuroi is the Japanese art of repair- ing broken pottery with gold, silver or platinum lacquer. Why toss that broken vase in the trash? Repair it in the kintsuku- roi tradition, and it be- comes more valued than the original. How inspir- ing to know something


can suffer damage in its history, and wind up more beautiful. Ernest Hemingway fa-


mously wrote, “Te world breaks everyone, and aſter-


ward, some are strong at the broken places.” –And per- haps golden there, as well. Maybe you’re familiar with Buddhist contemplations on imperma- nence, suffer- ing and egoic emptiness; Nothing


lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect. So there can be wisdom and beauty in “imper- fection,” and


value in brokenness –espe- cially if the splintering ves- sel is someone’s heart. You might then choose kintsu- kuroi –which in


Japanese


means “to repair with gold.” Applications may require courage, patience and trust. As a spiritual practice,


kintsukuroi helps me relate more whole-heartedly to the difficult people I encounter --including myself!


If the


world does break us all in- evitably, then remembering that helps me recognize neg- ative behaviors as indicators of underlying pain or fear.


I


can respond more empathi- cally, a healthier choice all around. And when I mend ragged seams with precious care, I feel restored in the process. I add experience, character and value to my life.


What prompted my return


to kintsukuroi practice was a recent long distance con- versation with a cousin that I’d not had contact with in nearly fiſty years. An unex- pected business opportunity involving family inheritanc- es put us back in touch. But was I shocked to hear how tormented his life had been! And that his mother –an aunt I’d remembered favor- ably –had played a key role.


Weird Facts & Fun Trivia - 3 by Marcia Singer • lovearts@att.net


“She broke all three of her children,” said my cousin in angry despair. Having to revamp my


family’s history is heart- breaking. Mending these new cracks will require for- giving myself for not being able to stop the punishing and shaming going on be- hind the family scenes.


I


do recall my father advising against families “airing their dirty laundry.” Sadly, many of us feel shame about our hurtful broken places. My cousin is in his late 50s, and just starting therapy. Will he be able to repair with gold? Forgive, make amends? Feel stronger and more beautiful for having endured a tough life? Become a way-shower for others? I’m optimistic. Endur-


ing heartbreak, disappoint- ments, betrayals or rude awakenings may be a fact of life, but there are countless possibilities for compassion and joy as well. And many ways to put kintsukuroi into play: tending a plant whose stems broke off in the wind.


... continued on page 11


The first crossword puzzle was published in a British newspaper called the Sunday Express in 1924.


There are less than 1,000 newspapers left in the United States (the most we ever had was 7,689). Many smaller communities now contribute to a “local” section of a larger paper. Wow! Upbeat Times is one of the remaining!


Even though newspaper subscriptions are declining, they still reach billions of people every day. Smart publications are taking advantage of the Internet.


99.4% of all retailers advertise their business in the newspaper.


Most readers only skim. They read headlines until they find an article that interests them. Very few people read a newspaper entirely.


“So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life’s A Great Balancing


Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you’ll move mountains.” Dr. Seuss


www.williebirdsrestaurant.com


A Sonoma County Tradition! “Turkey always and turkey all ways!”


Williebird’s Restaurant 1150 Santa Rosa Ave


Santa Rosa • 707-542-0861 8 • June 2016 • UPBEAT TIMES, INC.


Restaurant Hours: Monday - Saturday 7:00AM - 9:00PM Sunday 7:00AM - 8:00PM


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