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Wabi sabi

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Wabi sabi is a beautiful Japanese idea and worldview of appreciating the small traits of imperfection, the changes in things as they age, and that nothing is wholly complete.

Nothing lasts,

Nothing is finished,

Nothing is perfect,

And therein lies its beauty.

It might be appreciating the unique unevenness in a handmade bowl, the cracks and weathering of wood as it is grows old, or the softened and coloured pages of an old book.

It's a lovely frame of mind that helps us see the beauty in things that aren't perfect and brand new. As a society, it's probably something we could do with more of.

It is not impermanence that makes us suffer. What makes us suffer is wanting things to be permanent when they are not.

— Thich Nhat Hanh

The simple phrasing of nothing lasts, nothing is finished and nothing is perfect is from Wabi Sabi Simple by Richard Powell. The final line from me.

Published 14 Feb 2021

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What is The Overview Effect example explained: the classic moonrise photo from the Apollo 11 moon missions with 2 astronauts have a bit of a moment and need to sit down when taking in the majestic view of Earth from the moon and realise this is all we've got.

The Overview Effect A Profound Shift in Perspective

The overview effect is the ultimate example of "seeing the forest for the trees." It’s the realisation that we live on a fragile planet, that we are all connected, and that this is all we’ve got—our one and only home. Coined by author Frank White, this phenomenon is most vividly experienced by astronauts, who return to Earth profoundly changed by seeing our planet from space. Their reflections highlight the emotional and philosophical impact of this shift in perspective: “You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty.” — Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut Or this: “When we look down at the earth from space, we see this amazing, indescribably beautiful planet. It looks like a living, breathing organism. But it also, at the same time, looks extremely fragile … Anybody else who’s ever gone to space says the same thing because it really is striking and it’s really sobering to see this paper-thin layer and to realize that that little paper-thin layer is all that protects every living thing on Earth from death, basically. From the harshness of space.” — Ron Garan, Shuttle/ISS astronaut This sketch is inspired by the iconic photograph of Earth taken from the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. The image captures the striking beauty and fragility of our planet and perfectly embodies the spirit of the Overview Effect. This sketch appears in my book Big Ideas Little Pictures Related Ideas to The Overview Effect Also see: Wabi sabi Time hierarchy Pace layers Lifetime reads Rivers and bucketsThe overview effect is the ultimate example of "seeing the forest for the trees." It’s the realisation that we live on a fragile planet, that we are all connected, and that this is all we’ve got—our one and only home. Coined by author Frank White, this phenomenon is most vividly experienced by astronauts, who return to Earth profoundly changed by seeing our planet from space. Their reflections highlight the emotional and philosophical impact of this shift in perspective: “You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, international politics look so petty.” — Edgar Mitchell, Apollo 14 astronaut Or this: “When we look down at the earth from space, we see this amazing, indescribably beautiful planet. It looks like a living, breathing organism. But it also, at the same time, looks extremely fragile … Anybody else who’s ever gone to space says the same thing because it really is striking and it’s really sobering to see this paper-thin layer and to realize that that little paper-thin layer is all that protects every living thing on Earth from death, basically. From the harshness of space.” — Ron Garan, Shuttle/ISS astronaut This sketch is inspired by the iconic photograph of Earth taken from the moon during the Apollo 11 mission. The image captures the striking beauty and fragility of our planet and perfectly embodies the spirit of the Overview Effect. This sketch appears in my book Big Ideas Little Pictures Related Ideas to The Overview Effect Also see: Wabi sabi Time hierarchy Pace layers Lifetime reads Rivers and buckets

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