The Gift of Imperfection | #53

By Armaan Athwal

Today's Overview:

• Trying something new: A short story

• A story about embracing imperfections that reveals paths to growth and hidden beauty

• Quote of the day

Short Story

I wanted to try something new with todays letter by creating a short story that really connects to the imperfections in life because life doesn’t always turn out the way we want it to.

There are so many moments where things just feel off or not quite right. But it's more about recognizing those imperfections and using them to your advantage.

It’s easy to get caught up in what’s not perfect and miss the beauty in the messiness of life. We all have our own flaws, and that’s okay. They can lead to growth and new perspectives.

The Imperfect Vase

Omar was an apprentice potter, learning from one of the finest craftsmen in the village. Every day, he shaped lumps of clay on the wheel, but no matter how hard he tried, his vases always came out crooked or uneven. The edges would crack, or the glaze would bubble. Frustrated, Omar would smash them and start again, convinced they weren’t good enough.

His master watched silently, day after day, never intervening. One morning, Omar was more frustrated than ever. After hours of work, another vase cracked. He was about to destroy it when his master finally spoke.

“Wait,” holding up a hand. “Why do you keep smashing your work?”

“Because it’s flawed,” Omar said. “It’s not perfect, and no one will want it.”

The master smiled gently and motioned for Omar to follow him. They walked to a shelf in the back of the workshop, where dozens of old, dusty vases sat—each one more cracked and crooked than the last.

“These are my first works,” the master said, dusting off a misshapen pot. “I made every mistake you can imagine. But I didn’t destroy them. I kept them.”

Omar stared at the flawed pots in disbelief. “But why? They’re imperfect.”

“Exactly,” the master replied. “But those imperfections are the reason I learned. Each crack taught me where to strengthen the clay. Each bubble in the glaze showed me where I rushed. Without these flaws, I never would have mastered the craft.”

Omar looked down at his latest broken vase. For the first time, he didn't see a broken piece of work, but something he can improve on.

The master placed a hand on Omar’s shoulder. “You see, perfection doesn’t come from making something flawless. It comes from knowing how to embrace the flaws and turn them into strength.”

Omar returned to his wheel, but this time, when the clay cracked, he didn’t smash it. Instead, he worked with the flaw, shaping it into something new, something stronger.

Years later, people would marvel at the beauty of Omar’s pottery, not because it was perfect, but because it carried the marks of every mistake he had learned from.

Quote of the Day

“In nature, nothing is perfect and everything is perfect. Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they're still beautiful.” - Alice Walker