“Tell me what you pay attention to and I will tell you who you are.”
José Ortega y Gasset
What could French country style and zen possibly have in common? Wabi Sabi. Wabi sabi is the design representation of zen. Wabi sabi balances organic style with sophistication, for good taste is not a question of good or bad, but of balance.
When one thinks of French country style an image immediately comes to mind – an old stone house, its’closed blue shutters bleached by the heat of a brilliant sun, a large wooden table resting under the dappled shade of an oak tree, a chipped faience pottery pitcher filled with wine. French country style is about slowing down and finding joy in everyday arrangements of life where rustic simplicity links the past to the present. Similarly, wabi sabi encourages you to live in the moment, to focus on clouds passing across a window or a favorite painting on a wall. Wabi sabi teaches that life is a process and nothing is ever complete. This is best exemplified by having a laissez faire or flexible attitude towards your home.
A wabi sabi home will display objects that are in a state of transformation like a wooden chair rotting in the garden or nicked dishes used to eat a meal, identical medicine20.org to the ethos of French country style which acknowledges beauty in shabby decay. This acceptance of what is imperfect challenges us to be happy with change and to find pleasure in the imperfection of ourselves and the world we live in. Only by accepting ourselves will we become content with the way things are.
Hanging on to useless things is often a clue to a fear of losing your present identity and history. De-cluttering the home is a good way to help us understand that the possessions we decide to keep, souvenirs, are truly the most valuable. This process can often be challenging and since spring is just around the corner there is no better time to try letting go of stuff and keeping only those things that give you deep satisfaction. Get a number of recycled boxes and label them long-term storage, undecided and letting go along with the day’s date. Put into the long-term box all of the things that you think you will not need for some time like bank statements, paid bill receipts or seasonal clothes. Put all the things that you’re undecided about and don’t really know if you’ll miss into the undecided box. And, put all of the items that remind you of an unpleasant piece of your history, into the box labeled letting go. After a month recycle or give away those things from the letting go box that you haven’t missed. After another month look into the undecided box and see if there’s anything you can move into the empty letting go box. Take your time and continue sifting. Relax. Make a healthy snack. Relax some more.
Basque Walnuts
2 tablespoons organic butter
2 tablespoons organic olive oil
1 pound walnut halves
5 tablespoons finely chopped fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon Spanish paprika
2 teaspoons fleur de sel fine (fine sea salt)
Preheat oven to 325. Place the butter in a large pan and melt in the oven. Scatter the walnuts in the pan, stir them to coat them with the melted butter/oil mixture, then spread them out in a single layer. Sprinkle the rosemary, salt and paprika evenly over the nuts. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes, shaking and stirring several times until the nuts are golden brown, but not burned. Drain if necessary on paper towels.
Serve at room temperature.
