The kintsugi metaphor for repair mindset is beautiful, tangible and vulnerable. Interestingly, I've used kintsugi pottery to teach a growth mindset in language classes with Japanese students. Many students between 18-30 are unfamiliar with kintsugi pottery and philosophy. One student in her 40s, who is an environmental engineer, suggested that perhaps younger generations have grown up in a more disposable era. Her insight gives me pause to consider a cultural, generational shift that spills over into our relationships and how willing we are as a global family to value and learn the skills to repair relationships.
This is a such an insightful comment Emily. I'm not surprised that it came from you. And I'd love to figure out a way to incorporate the metaphor more into our work. When you say you taught kintsugi pottery, do you mean literally? I could see a very cool workshop centered around doing the actual work of repairing pottery.
To clarify, I teach the concept of kintsugi, not the skill of pottery making. But you planted a seed for a hands-on “moral creativity” project. What if Repair participants could throw a simple pot or add mosaic pieces/shards of teacups to premade pots between sessions to process the concepts they learn at Repair? It could also be a rad future workshop to incorporate art therapy and creative practice into the reconciliation journey.
The kintsugi metaphor for repair mindset is beautiful, tangible and vulnerable. Interestingly, I've used kintsugi pottery to teach a growth mindset in language classes with Japanese students. Many students between 18-30 are unfamiliar with kintsugi pottery and philosophy. One student in her 40s, who is an environmental engineer, suggested that perhaps younger generations have grown up in a more disposable era. Her insight gives me pause to consider a cultural, generational shift that spills over into our relationships and how willing we are as a global family to value and learn the skills to repair relationships.
This is a such an insightful comment Emily. I'm not surprised that it came from you. And I'd love to figure out a way to incorporate the metaphor more into our work. When you say you taught kintsugi pottery, do you mean literally? I could see a very cool workshop centered around doing the actual work of repairing pottery.
To clarify, I teach the concept of kintsugi, not the skill of pottery making. But you planted a seed for a hands-on “moral creativity” project. What if Repair participants could throw a simple pot or add mosaic pieces/shards of teacups to premade pots between sessions to process the concepts they learn at Repair? It could also be a rad future workshop to incorporate art therapy and creative practice into the reconciliation journey.
I love that idea. Let's pick a time to chat about that. I see a ton of really amazing possibilities there.