The Flaws That Make Us Whole
People often tell me, as I’m sure they do you, how beautiful, smart, or creative my children are. I’ve always said they are the best of both me and their father, and I truly believe that. Though I’m no longer married to their father and we aren’t friends, I can still see the good in him. Seeing the good in people is one of my best—and sometimes my most challenging—qualities.
One of the reasons I love designing with wood, shells, and stones is because of their natural imperfections. Some people strive for perfection in everything, but I’ve always been drawn to the beauty in flaws. Perfection is often just a fragile façade, and under the right pressure, even the most polished gold will scratch, and the strongest stone will crack.
We all have flaws, and the harder we try to hide them, the more visible they sometimes become. We’ve all met people who seemed stunning at first glance, only to discover over time an inner ugliness that overshadowed their beauty. Conversely, there are those whose inner light and kindness reveal a beauty far beyond appearances. It’s not the absence of flaws that defines us but how we embrace and share them—with the world, with others, and with ourselves.
I never thought of myself as beautiful until I had my children. Seeing my reflection in their faces made me realize that if they are beautiful, I must be too. I never thought of myself as smart until I saw their intelligence shine and understood that some of that must have come from me. It’s a profound gift to see yourself reflected in the ones you love, to recognize the best parts of yourself through them.
As I look at my "adultish" children now, I see their beauty, bravery, intelligence, kindness, and strength. Sure, I see their flaws and the lessons they still need to learn, but I also see their tenacity and the unique ways they navigate the world. When I step back and close my eyes, I can remember that I have all those qualities within me too.
When you look at the people you love, do you see yourself in them? Do you notice your own flaws, your lessons to learn, but also your beauty and strength reflected back at you? It’s there. Look closely, and you’ll find it.
xx
Christina