We all enjoy the prospect of perfection.

Everyone has an ideal outcome. We all make plans.

But very rarely do they unfold as they were drawn up.

Why? Well, because life is predictably unpredictable.

It's mysterious.

Yet for some reason we march on toward the acquisition of a flawless existence.

Scared of anything but an undamaged, untarnished, immaculate reflection

staring back at us in the mirror.

But in the real world, you know, our happiness, contentment, growth, progress,

that are not a product of perfection.

They're built from the imperfections that we collect along the way.

The trials, the tribulations.

You know, when you piece all that together, like little puzzle pieces,

they depict the beauty. They show the image that's always been so highly coveted.

In other words, the process of rebuilding creates something more valuable than the same pieces before they were broken down, when they were untouched.

In Japanese philosophy, there's a concept known as Kinsugi,

which is the art of repairing broken pottery with a golden lacquer.

It's the idea that we don't want to hide the damage,

but we want to rebuild it into something more meaningful, more valuable.

Embrace the imperfect, own and cherish it.

There's an old story about a tea master known as Rikyu. And he was attending a Japanese tea ceremony

with one of his followers. And the follower tries to impress Rakeu by

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