An insightful experience shared by Dr. Tripti Mishra on 'BP Care Group-NCR' WhatsApp Group of Bipolar India (reproduced here with her permission)
Recently, I visited Ranthambore to attend an award ceremony hosted by Edelweiss Tokio. After the ceremony, and amidst rounds of parties and sightseeing, I found myself captivated by a potter at the resort who was teaching others the art of pottery. Intrigued, I decided to give it a try myself and attempt to create a piggy bank (Gullak).
The potter was incredibly patient, guiding me through each step. I followed his instructions carefully until it came time to shape the piece. When I tried to close the round shape, my hands ended up creating a messy, misshapen blob of wet clay. “Let’s start again,” he suggested. I sighed and agreed. Despite repeating the process, I made the same mistake. By my third attempt, when it was time to close the end, I asked if we could leave it halfway. Instead of a piggy bank, I ended up with an incomplete vase.
Undeterred, I next attempted to make a diya. However, while trimming the bottom, I accidentally cut through an extra layer, turning a simple diya into a two-layered one. Transporting these unbaked clay pieces was quite a challenge. After carefully drying them in the sun and transporting them back home, I painted them with the single color I had available. In the end, I found a new purpose for them: not as money banks, but as vessels for flowers with beautiful fragrances and lights.
This experience became a Wabi-Sabi moment for me—a Japanese term that celebrates "flawed beauty." Wabi-Sabi emphasizes the beauty in imperfection and the process of creation, recognizing that a piece is often incomplete.
Similarly, life, especially for those facing mental health challenges, can be full of trials and tribulations. We might not always achieve what we initially aimed for or dreamed of. Life often takes unexpected turns, leading us to different paths and roles. It’s easy to look back with regret over unfulfilled dreams. However, should we allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by regret or should we embrace and find joy in where we are now? I choose the latter.
My journey, from pursuing a B.Tech in Electronics and Telecom, qualifying for GATE twice, earning an M.Tech and Ph.D., to completing an MBA, has been filled with numerous failures , dark corners and tears along the way. It was heart breaking for me for not being able to qualify interviews of India level exams like Indian Engineering Services, Airport Authority of India and NHPC due to severe mental health conditions. But God guided me through my career, spanning roles from Assistant Professor to Professor over thirty years, and eventually shifting to teaching a single 7th grader, career coaching, and part-time financial advising, has been filled with unexpected turns. I loved teaching, handling placements and training the students in college. Student’s Love, affection and respect healed me in many ways.
Despite the imperfections and changes, I’ve learned to enjoy the journey and appreciate the simple pleasures around me. I often reflect on how God has his own way of beautifying our imperfect lives through his Wabi-Sabi. For that, I am deeply grateful and bow down in appreciation.
I'm reaching out to everyone out there to understand there is hope wherever we are.
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