Team-building, team-bonding staff away-day, whatever you may call it, it is an essential time for colleagues to step away from the normalities and the grind of work and spend time together and bond. It can help to improve relationships, socialise in an environment that is different to your usual place of work which could result in better productivity and a morale-boost.
So what did the First 5 Lambeth team do? Of course food was involved, food always brings happiness and promotes good connection. But furthermore we participated in a kintsugi workshop at the Art4Space studio led by their amazingly talented Healing Art Practitioner. So what is kintsugi? Kintsugi is an ancient Japanese art form where broken pottery is transformed and put together again using gold. Wabi-Sabi is a Japanese philosophy, a way of living, by accepting that we aren’t always in full control of our lives. It encourages us to find peace in the natural way that life takes us rather than focusing too much on its flaws and chasing for perfection. It is a beautiful way of thinking and certainly something we can all adapt to with the high pressures of life and all the chaos around us. Wabi-Sabi also brings us closer to nature, using what we have and living more sustainably. This is where kintsugi can be seen as a tangible form of Wabi-Sabi.
When we break a mug or a bowl, for a lot of us it is tempting to just throw it away and replace it with a new one, as we immediately perceive that broken mug or bowl as un-usable, ugly, unwanted. Or some people may be saddened by the broken item which was once their favourite but unsure what to do with its broken pieces and therefore throw it away. Kintsugi teaches us that such items can be repaired and re-purposed. When the broken mug is put together again, it may not function as a mug but it could be used as a stationery holder or simply displayed on the shelf as an elegant art piece to be celebrated and cherished. The special glue and golden seams hold the pieces together, but what’s more is the golden seams are highlighting the fractures and transforming the item into something beautiful again.
It was an enjoyable group activity. Everyone was so focused on the repair as well as learning a new skill. Doing a creative activity like this where technical skills are involved can bring on calmness, joy and gratitude. Everyone went home with a completed piece to be proud of. For some of us, it was the first time in a long time to do something creative and joyful for the soul. So many of us are so busy with our lives balancing work, home, families and anything else that gets thrown in to the mix that we easily forget to look after ourselves and forget to set aside a couple of hours every now and again to do a mindful activity that brings us peace. The workshop was well received and we will certainly do more well-being activities for our annual staff-get-together.
