Someone asked me once: "How long you are in USA?", probably thinking: "She just arrived". When I said: "25 years in New York City", instead of judgment that I expected, they got so impressed and exclaimed: "How did you manage to preserve such a great accent!?" This really put me at ease, and I said: "I tried really hard!"
I always were shy about my English, and my accent, and my Russian now, believe me, not better too! For some reason I am given this challenge in life: to be a writer, a speaker, a storyteller in my being, and having this imperfect tool to use!
My friend reminded me today about an old Japanese art form - Wabi Sabi - the way to embrace impermanence of this world and see the beauty of imperfection. How wonderfully this applies to my verbal expression, how much more warmth it brings to my heart when I smile, remembering talking about borsht, and posting it to the whole world without fear! I used to have fear of being ridiculed, rejected, not accepted, judged. When I immigrated to USA from Russia, I used to feel dumb and not smart enough, even though I had an Engineering degree, only because I couldn't express myself in the clarity and precision my being always demanded from me.
So today I am practicing Wabi Sabi - seeing the beauty in imperfection. It feels natural to love playful me. It feels very compassionate and generous. It feels life-giving. I encourage anyone who still feel shy about anything in themselves that feels less then enough, drop that idea, and instead see the beauty of the uniqueness that is only you.
Only you are with that birthmark on the cheek. Only you are with that special crackling voice. Only you are without that tooth, and that one too. Only you are with that accent that makes everyone smile and listen. Only you have those interesting body proportions. Only you got that life experience. Only you can sing as you sing. Only you can write as you write. Only you can love as you love. Isn't it beautiful to be you?! Let's practice Wabi Sabi and celebrate the uniqueness in each of us!
The video I mention in this article is here:
Elena's YouTube video on borsht :)
