Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that is very loosely defined as embracing life’s imperfections.
A philosophy as much as it is a way of life, this glass is half full, less is more approach to finding happiness and focusing on the way things are as opposed to the way we think things should be, this distinctly Japanese concept with roots that can be traced back to Zen Buddhism feels especially poignant this time of year.
I can’t tell you how I first came to learn about it, but it’s a construct I’ve come to appreciate more and more recently. I wrote about a few hotels that are introducing travelers to experiences like wabi-sabi and the art of kintsugi, which is a similar practice that is manifested into an art form where you physically repair something that’s been broken.
As we gingerly tiptoe out of the grips of summer and into sights, frights, and frigid feels of fall here in the old South, I’m ready to cross over and move on to all things autumn once and for all.
Fall was never my favorite time of year, although I have a newfound appreciation for it now that we’re so firmly rooted down here in Beaufort. Historically, I didn’t love the fall because it would mean mourning the freedom of summers spent with friends by the beach or traveling somewhere new and exciting. Recently, I wrote about some of my favorite solo trips, many of which happened during the summer break.
October, or shoulder season in travel writing parlance, is one of the best months to travel, after all. You can read why Fall is actually the best time of year to travel to Europe, as my wonderful colleague Terry Ward so brilliantly penned for CNN Travel recently. After spending a few weeks in the soul-crushingly busy and blazing hot pizza oven that was Italy this summer, I wholeheartedly agree with Terry’s thesis.
I took some time off the road after my trip to Egypt in August and have been spending some at home working, regrouping, and trying to keep up with our sweet and mischievous little Foxie girl. In addition to travel writing, I took on some new and exciting branded content projects this summer that has been keeping me so busy that I feel like I’ve dropped the ball a bit on my beloved Beau Yorker newsletter. So, I wanted to offer a mea culpa with the promise that I will do better moving forward.
The good news is I’m back on the road this month with back-to-back reporting trips starting with a few days on assignment in Boston, followed by quick work trips to Champagne, Paris, and London for a big Hyatt event at the NoMad. I’ve also been invited to a conference in Rwanda, which hasn’t been booked just yet, but I’m putting all the positive vibes out there in the hopes that it works out.
If it doesn’t, it’s going to be OK either way. Wabi-sabi.
In the meantime, I’ll be back this month with some newly published stories and other strictly Southern updates. Until then, I leave you with this meme in honor of October 3rd. IYKYK.
Safe travels and happy fall, ya’ll.
-Mich aka The Beau Yorker