Be Proud of Your Scars

Scars come in all different shapes and sizes. Some are visible, bodily, scars while others are emotional and go unseen.

Often times when something is broken it is viewed as damaged goods and is either salvaged for parts or thrown away. In Japan, however, they have a unique method in place for dealing with bowls that are cracked. When a bowl is broken it is put back together by filling the cracks with gold. This process is referred to as “Kintsukuroi”.

“This is to emphasize the beauty in what was once broken. They believe that when something has suffered damage and has a history, it makes it more beautiful. And the same goes for human beings.” - Sean Buranahiran

This may seem a bit trivial at first, but I want you to try something for a moment. Close your eyes and imagine your life as a one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl. It may be in pristine condition, have just a tiny chip taken out of it, or perhaps it has multiple cracks and discolorations. Or maybe you’ve already been through hell and back in your life, and your bowl is shattered into pieces on the floor.

Your scars should not make you feel ugly, undesired, or ashamed. While you’re going through difficult times it might feel that way, but the truth is that you should be proud of your scars.

You have a choice. You can leave your bowl broken on the ground, or you can mend it back together by painting your struggles with gold, and making your life into something you find beautiful.

No matter what shape your bowl is in it can always be repaired, because you hold the power to transform it. There will come a time in your life where you will look back on your trials and tribulations, and realize that they helped make you into the person you’ve proudly become.

“Every next level of your life will demand a new you. And sometimes it takes being broken in order to become that new version of yourself.”