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Motherhood proved to be a life-changing and learning experience for Pant. The process of recovery is accompanied by learning and with the heat of learning ripens the fruit of knowledge which is essential for self-realisation.” And such knowledge helped Pant overcome the most difficult time of her life. The beauty of Kintsugi lies in ‘recovery’. They are those scales that measure our strength and resilience. They are seen as shreds of evidence of those storms that could not wither us away. In Kintsugi, cracks (mental or physical) form an intrinsic part of our lives. Pant explains: “A classic example of Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese art form called Kintsugi (the art of repairing ceramics with gold inlay so that the finished product is more enduring and more beautiful). Rather than chasing some idealised (Westernised) image of beauty and perfection, it tells you to revel in the impermanence and imperfections of life. A philosophy and a practical guide - it gently guides you to acceptance, to appreciate the fleeting nature of all things, and to understand the beauty in flaws, imperfections and rawness. So, what is Wabi-Sabi and how did it help this new mom cope? Wabi-Sabi is ancient wisdom from Japan, heavily influenced by Buddhist thinking and deeply rooted in the reverence the Japanese feel for nature. In their apparent simplicity is the promise of change, of renewal. These wellness practices, many believe, help one to truly understand the mind-body-nature-connect and fully appreciate how life can become more beautiful and meaningful. And the thing with Japanese wellness practices is that they project an innate sense of calm and possibility that makes them terribly attractive. One wonders what are people seeking.is it happiness? Relief from the everyday grind? An antidote to anxiety? Or perhaps an easy way out from the inevitable stressors of life? Whatever the purpose of seeking, seeking many truly are. In this post-pandemic world, as many of us focus on immunity-boosting lifestyles and healthier diets, others are seeking out ancient Japanese philosophies and practices like Wabi-Sabi, Ikigai and Shinrin-Yoku. I did not want any negative emotion to percolate in him while I gave him Kangaroo mother care.” (A method of care for preterm infants involving skin-to-skin contact.) “I could lament endlessly about why this happened to me, what wrong I did to deserve this, or simply accept the situation and try to live in the present moment. Be prepared.” As the Gurugram-based writer puts it: “The following two months were the most trying times of our lives.”īut Pant chose acceptance over fruitless anger. My doctor looked me in the eye and said, “Manvi, we are anticipating a storm ahead. And here I was standing in the corridor trying to make sense of the words. “We had a maternity shoot planned the next day. The news was absolutely devastating for Pant and her husband Piyush. Around my third trimester, when I went for a check-up, my gynaecologist told me the baby wasn’t putting on weight - there is a high impediment in the blood flow and the nutrient flow - if we don’t operate immediately, the baby may not survive.” Then, something fell out of place and complications started brewing - one after the other. Things were flowing well…as they should in a normal pregnancy. For Manvi Pant, 2021 was life-changing in so many different ways.