Wabisabi is a Japanese word that refers to the beauty found in imperfection and transience. It celebrates the idea that nothing lasts, nothing is perfect and nothing is finished. 

Seventeen days ago, I arrived back home after a twenty four day visit with my family in the Philippines.

It was a long and quite stressful journey for myself with all the connecting flights, layovers, and last minute flight changes.

But I survived, with a much deeper appreciation for my ability to adapt and conquer my fears. 

And a much deeper understanding for everything that doesn’t last, things that are not perfect, and of those that are not finished.

But what does wabisabi have to do with all this?

This is my second visit since Dy passed away in May of 2021. And a lot has changed. Through a collaborative effort, we were able to get the house renovated. Something that up to this time, makes me sad that Daddy didn’t get to see it. 

Mang (our mother), from the last time I was home, looked a lot healthier (physically). Her memory though, has it’s good days and bad days. Out of the twenty four days that I was home, she mentioned Dy twice. One was on the morning of her birthday. She said, “if only your Daddy was here.” The second, when she went downstairs and saw how much the house had changed. And she cried every time. So did I.

In all these instances, it was always something that Mang, and I’m sure the rest of us, would have wanted Dy to enjoy and see for himself. 

But he didn’t. Daddy missed all of it. 

I can tell with much certainty, that our home look and feel so much more alive when we’re there. There’s more laughter. Time spent eating together and reminiscing the old days. I’m sure it made Dy very happy, just like Mang was. 

Wabisabi celebrates the beauty in imperfection and of those moments that last for only a short time. Those days were our wabisabi. 

Now that my brother and I are both back overseas, our home won’t feel and look the same. It never has since Dy passed away. 

But just like the idea of wabisabi, perhaps this will last only for a short time? After all, nothing lasts, nothing is perfect and nothing is finished.

Until next time,