Happiness Restored by David Jimenez

Kintsugi, meaning ‘golden joinery,’ is a Japanese tradition dating back to the 15th century in which broken ceramics are fixed with an adhesive resin that is mixed with powdered gold. Underlying Kintsugi is the belief that cracks are not a problem but an asset; that objects become more interesting and beautiful as they acquire their golden seams, their life lines.

Kintsugi reminds us that our possessions are more than just ‘things’; they are stories. They are born unblemished but soon acquire the nicks and scratches that document their life and ours. In the process, they become our belongings, and we become their keepers. If they break, we mend them so that we can to continue to keep them, so that they can continue to belong.

We have the tools: screwdrivers, hammers, needles, thread, sticky tape, adhesive. We have the cause: the more we ‘make-do and mend‘, the less resources we consume. If we have the desire, we can fix a broken belonging and create our own golden seams.

 What you can do: Discover the joy of fix with the Guardian’s beautifully illustrated ‘Live Better: How to Mend’ blog. And if you’re feeling adventurous, why not buy yourself a Kintsugi kit and truly immerse yourself in the Japanese tradition.

David Jimenez was an entrant in the Creative Conscience Awards.