Finding Beauty in the Tragedy

This last week our community has faced destruction from flooding. Many people have been displaced temporarily while others have been left without a home. It would be easy to focus on the destruction, but I choose to focus on the blessings. In the midst of tragedy, beauty emerged through the actions of people gathering together to help each other. Sometimes the most beautiful moments start with the most tremendous struggle.

Last week I talked about my favorite projects being born out of the most challenging circumstances. I think the tragedy around me in the last few days has highlighted that same point again. It reminds me that often the rough edges are what make the piece of art more special and beautiful.

Our clock projects start with pallets, some new and some very used. Finding just the right wood has proven to be a challenge at times. It used to take me hours sorting wood to find the perfect pieces. Pieces of wood that were all the same width, had a few nails or nail holes, some knot that was interesting, or the right wood grain that would stain well. After a while I realized that sometimes the pieces that were less perfect in the beginning turn out to be the best in the end. I still spend a lot of time searching for the right wood combinations, but now I look for pieces that have more character and less perfection.

I am reminded of a children's book “Beautiful Oops”, that I always read to my students at the beginning of the year. The purpose of the book is to help them see that all mistakes can be turned into something beautiful. Since we began making clocks I have had to learn to embrace the mistakes or imperfections because starting over isn’t an option. It can be hard to embrace mistakes in art, but once you learn it reward you with the most beautiful pieces.

Life is an art. Mistakes happen, but the way we embrace and change them to create beauty is what makes life beautiful. Its never an easy road, but in the end it will be worth all the pain and struggle. My community will carry the scares of this flood, but together they will lift each other up build a stronger bond then we had before the flooding.

I challenge you to find the beauty in tragedy and embrace your mistakes in order to become stronger. We would love to hear from you and learn about how you embrace your mistakes. #embraceyourmistakes