Shutter Sisters

cracking up

By

In a recent email exchange with Shutter Sister Sarah-Ji, I was struck with the quote that was at the footer of her email:

There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.

It’s a perfectly simple idea—a sage lyric from Leonard Cohen—but I’m not sure I never thought about the cracks in things or in ourselves quite like that. The idea that the cracks actually bring the gift of illumination is a huge sigh of relief.

I repeat the lines in my head over and over again and I feel liberated. Why try to hide an imperfection that brings with it light? Imagine, if we begin to see the cracks like this, what happens to the rest of our fractures and flaws? There must be a silver lining to more of the less-than-perfect traits that we too often try to cover/mask/hide.

As I muse on the idea of celebrating my own imperfections, I encourage you to do the same. Let’s turn self-consciousness on its ear and willingly reveal the fissures that run through each of us. Perhaps if we begin to look at the cracks under a new, gentler, more tolerant lens, perhaps we can bring to light all the beauty—the big perfectly imperfect picture—of who we are.

Comments

  1. I love this line (as I do love many by the great man). Imperfection is what makes life and people, and things real and beautiful, and whole! If only more people understood this and stopped stressfully striving for perfection…

  3. That lyric really hits home for me. Not only do the cracks let in light, but warmth as well. It’s amazing how we can be so supportive, giving and loving of each others’ individualities, if we choose. Great post and picture!

  6. wonderful shot…and lyric. What I’m taking away from it is that yes, there are imperfections…but sometimes being married to a man 10yrs younger than I, I’m more apt to see the cracks…or crow’s feet on my face…None of that negative energy come from him….I’m a goddess in his eyes. So, today, I choose to see myself through his loving eyes. I pride myself of aging gracefully…I honestly know this is the best I’ve looked or felt in my whole life…and everything keeps getting better, but there are those little moments when I’m not so self-assured that get me 🙂 Three cheers for cracks! 🙂 Who says art can’t be therapeutic?

  7. Wow, love this post. I am so self-critical sometimes of the little "failings" in my life. I think I should start thinking of them as cracks. Cracks that let in the light and grace of acceptance & forgiveness.

  14. I feel a tiny fissure started in my day this morning and I’m afraid it will grow into an enormous crack. But perhaps that’s just what I need. Thanks for a lovely post. I love those words.

  17. Awesome, Tracey! I undercovered this similar concept in the book, "Broken Open" by Elizabeth Lesser. Embrace the cracks!! 😉 xoxo, ~ M.

  18. This post made me remember Alanis Morrisette’s song’s lyrics, "You learn". It has something to do with imperfections and learning from them too.
    I am learning to see myself through the camera more (many of us, women photographers, have that issue, I think), and to see my beloved ones’ imperfections and like them anyway (or because of them too).

  23. Cohen was brilliant – another similar quote that I love is "it’s the cracks that make you beautiful, it’s the cracks that make you whole."

  26. It’s the imperfections that give things…and people!…character. That’s why I love antiques…old jewelry, old furniture, old knick-knacks and what-sits. They tell a story, and they are far more beautiful than sleek, factory-fresh, and soulless things. The cracks don’t just let the light shine in; the cracks let the soul shine out!