Living without ghosts

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So if you understand the loose reference of the title, then can we take a second to appreciate the pop genius of Taylor Swift? If you don't, no worries- it's from Bad Blood from Miss Swift's new album, 1989. The bridge of the song croons that "band aids don't fix bullet holes / you say sorry just for show / if you live like that, you live with ghosts". Whilst obsessively listening to the entire album on repeat, the aforementioned lines got me thinking.
Do we all live with ghosts? Because I can almost guarantee that not every apology I've given, regrettably, has been completely sincere. Do we say sorry just for show? What defines the difference between when you say sorry because you want forgiveness and for the badness to disappear, and when you truly are, from the depths of everything you are...sorry.
Perhaps apologies, and their sincerity differ on the person to whom you are apologising. Saying sorry to a relative could be seen as more important than the quick "sorry" you utter when treading on someone's foot whilst shimmying past them on a busy street- but what if, run with me here, every apology was of the same weight? Or if every sorry you ever said, had to mean something? Would we apologize less? Or would we be forced to open our eyes to how our actions affect those around us?
If saying sorry for show was no longer an option, would relationships be better or worse?
As a child, I certainly said my fair share of sulky "sorry"s when I'd pilfered a biscuit or two. I wasn't sorry! I'd snuck in an extra jam cream- how proposterous, to think I'd regret it! Gosh mama! 
If I was unable to apologize unless I really, truly, honestly meant it- would I be in more trouble, or less? It would make the world a more honest place. But I guess that's because apologies are quite often the aftermath of a dose of hefty, unpleasant honesty (or being caught, but even then, you have to be honest and admit to it!). So is saying sorry for show another way of lying? Do you become less honest if you're apologising to rectify a situation for which you aren't sorry, and there's no clear wrongdoing, just the messy business of feelings?
If you apologize to spare someone's feelings, then, are you doing right or wrong?
I guess honesty doesn't leave much room for the consideration of feelings most times...but I'm going to give only apologising when I'm sorry a go. I'll report back on how unpopular I get!

We are golden

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Ladies & gentlemen, from the depths of my duvet, wrapped around a christmas-y hot water bottle, I bring you a beautiful concept that originated in 15th century Japan. Never have I felt so moved by something that I simply couldn't rest  until I'd shared it with you...but here we are.
I present to you; Kintsugi. The art of embracing damage and the appreciation of brokenness. Essentially, when a piece of china was broken, if the owner could afford such luxuries, the pieces would be sent to a joiner who would piece it back together. However, instead of using resin, or paste, the joiner would use gold to hold together the reassembled piece, thus highlighting the ghost of damage. The art of kintsukuori highlights how beautiful healing is. The metaphor of all of us having been broken at some point, or feeling lost and without hope- but celebrating how beautiful these scars have made us...It swells my heart.
The art's philosophy has similarities to the Japanese philosophy by the name of wabi-sabi, which encourages and praises the embracing of flaws. It also encompasses the beauty of an object growing as it is used- and it needing to be repaired is the ultimate sign of beauty, as it has been used alot, thus has lived alot. Essentially, the philosophy is telling us that the scars of experiences we gain from life make us more beautiful, because we have lived. And that in itself is a wonderful thing.
Not only are examples of kintsugi absolutely gorgeous, but they're an incredible reminder that we are all only human. And instead of hiding away our cracks and breaks, it's a shining example of why we should wear these scars with pride. Because they are beautiful. As are we. We are more beautiful for having been broken, and reassembled, than to have never been broken at all.

What I Mean...

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So this slice of the interest is now about 4 days old/active, and I feel before I launch into a whole host of wonderful stuff I'm creating at present, I want to get down to basics. Before there is anything to strip back, lay out the bare bones of what e.m.i.p really means to me. Because I suppose what it means to me will translate into my work, and thus become an ethos of sorts.
Each moment is precious holds such a wide scope. But it's one of the truest thing to say, because the truth is that each moment you spend, be it awake, or asleep, or with or without a loved one, is precious. Because our lives are short- wonderful blips in the stream of time. We aren't given an eternity to understand the world around us, and as a human community, we are all blessed with different experiences. The time we have is unspeakably precious. Even those moments when you're working overtime, and have been on your feet for 8 hours and are rather grumbly and hungry. Even those moments after you've climbed a tonne of stairs and are out of breath because the whole gym thing never really worked out for you. Each and every moment is important, because it's one of a limited number.
I named this blog "Each Moment is Precious" over "Every Moment is Precious" because each stresses the importance of the individual moment. Away from the collective mindset that blocks together moments into minutes and hours and days and weeks. To me, each moment is precious puts emphasis on relishing each individual moment, and appreciating it for what it is.
And I hope to share some of the most beautiful, humble and ordinary moments I can find on this (newly designed) slice of interweb.