Kintsugi

Dr. Maria Sirois opened her keynote presentation for the Non Profit Center of the Berkshires Virtual Sustainability Summit by using the Japanese art of Kintsugi, “golden repair,” as a metaphor for resilience.

Kintsugi is an art form said to have come about accidentally, when a 15th. century shogun broke his favorite bowl and was dissatisfied with the visible repairs. The solution was to fill the cracks with golden lacquer, creating a new and unique work of art.

I have seen this picture many times, but never realized that it was a repair. I thought it was an integral part of the design.

During this pandemic, with lots of time on my hands, it has been easy to focus on the negative in the world around me and within myself. When I look in the mirror, I see the physical flaws I have stopped hiding while in isolation; they feel like a reflection of my discontent.  

Sirois’s message was not to deny these negative emotions, but to hold them alongside the positive:

               Fractured and at our best

               Broken and whole

               Sad and hopeful

               Falling apart and growing

               Vulnerable and brave

The ability to hold these at once is both personally necessary for moving forward and an essential characteristic of good leadership. It is the difficult task of a leader to acknowledge feelings of grief and despair, her own and others, and at the same time inspire bravery. Having led one college during 9/11 and another after the death of a beloved colleague, I remember all too well feeling sad and vulnerable. I let that show, crying along with everyone else who was suffering. But then I assured them that we were truly “at our best” taking care of each other and not giving in to anger. I knew it was my job to deliver a message of hope.