Wolverine and Kintsugi

Ebb and flow are part of life cycle. All have heard, read, seen but when the ebbs are felt, off the many who face it, those who come out are few. Why is it so? In game of life, while hearing, seeing and talking about this could be considered as easier levels of difficulty, feeling and going through it is different level of difficulty. 

When difficult times hit, there are two types of behavior that people portray from the way they respond:

1. Some are astute and resilient.
2. Some succumb, give up, get into depression or suicide.

The astute and resilient see solution to negativity is confidence in goodness, courage in acceptance and wisdom in seeing things as they are. This attitude lets them spring out of the situation which is seen as abyss by those who succumb and fall into depression. The astute who are generally victorious in wading the situation feel that what Wolverine feels when pain is felt. "The pain lets you know you're still alive. The battle isn't around you, it is within you". The astute suit themselves for occasion and outgrow when needed. The astute becomes Wolverine.

On the other spectrum who succumb should know that the fear of uncertainty is the killer. We all go to sleep with hope that we would wake up in morning. When we face this event which is the most uncertain fearless and with faith, shouldn't the question be why fear about any other uncertainty? Since we all face the most uncertain with faith aren't we all wolverines?

In one of the opening scenes in Bollywood Movie Pathan, Shah Rukh Khan, an exiled RAW agent discusses with his ex-boss Dimple Kapadia to help start an organization with team of ex-RAW agents. In their conversation there is mention of a Japanese word Kintsugi. It was something new and made me look for this word. Kintsugi which means "to join with gold" is an ancient Japanese art done by adding lacquer and powdered gold to broken pottery which makes the repaired pottery much more beautiful and valuable. The process usually takes months. This artwork shows how to embrace and find strength in imperfection with patience. 

If those who feel like succumbing to situation when an ebb hits them, face it with an attitude of wolverine and handle it with skill of kintsugi would sure bring out the best in them. Humans have lived ages and the progress made and seen are by the Wolverines with Kintsugi, who never give up and are patient. Humans have that mantle in them, if not would not have been able to come out of natural disasters, pandemics, social unrests, anarchy. Persistence and faith are the core values of such people. A belief that there is always a solution to every problem. Deep down they keep telling themselves, I didn't come this far to come this far only. 

The more people we have with Wolverine attitude and Kintsugi skill the mental wellbeing of society would be at bliss. Probably a way to utopian world.