They asked me how I liked teaching.
I like it, it is not that I don't like it.
But, I miss my life as a potter.
I miss getting up and talking a morning walk, I miss the commute across the yard, I miss working with Mark on a daily bases, I miss the rhythm of the work place; the clay on the wheel, the fixing, the stamping, the creative edge, the zone. I miss it all.
This was my answer to them, " I was trying so hard to stay in my lane, not to look left or right, just move ahead, then one day I turned left in front of traffic."
You never know what you have until you try to hang on to it. Bit by bit by bit life can change.
It's what you do with it.
For me, I am teaching.
Some days it feels as if the band broke up.
Other days it all flows and new exciting challenges come up.
But, isn't that life?
Isn't life what you are doing while it is all happening around you.
We are still making pottery, Whynot Pottery still has a life, it is just at a slower pace.
Check in with us for weekly hours.
M
11 comments:
Yes, I think you nailed it.
I love to teach and I love to make pottery in my own little studio. When I’m away from either one it’s making pottery that I miss most.
It’s always interesting finding our balance.
Yes, it is.
Today I'm leaning a little...
I know--teaching is invigorating...but it isn't making pots, entirely, is it?
I get crabby if I'm not making pottery.
I can only guess at your feelings of missing your studio life. But I'm glad you're starting some new potters out on the path of loving mud...who knows where they will end up. In the meantime, it's great you're continuing to blog as well as teach and make things!
I totally relate to your missing your morning walks, and your commute across the yard, among other things. When I was away lots of days nursing, it made it doable if I could make it home before dark and take a walk with the pups, and see all the intricacies that change from day to day, which you come to notice spending years on a piece of land.
I feel like I was in the car with you, turning into that traffic! Life is what you make it, they say, but sometimes I think life makes up it's own mid and I have had nothing to do with it! Mine sure veered off the path I was on. The shame is, most of the time those changes are due to money. I hate the way money is such a controlling factor for life!
Enjoy the teaching, you have so much to give!
I'm not a potter but I totally understand. As a musician, I've had to teach to make ends meet. Then there were the years (as in, the last 9) where I struggled to get students because of the stupid school system here. Now I'm teaching again at the college level but the performance level is not up to par of some of my advanced high school students. Still, when I was in MN and teaching 30 students a week, it made me never want to play the flute again. It's such a tough balance between taking the work when offered (because you never know when it will be offered again) and taking time for your own creative work. Wish I had some magic words of wisdom other than to hang in there. Hopefully a more balanced schedule will sort itself out for you!
Gorgeous white clematis too!
Thank you Claudia!
Well said! I gave up teaching a couple of years ago because I wanted to do my own work full-time. As much as I enjoyed teaching, it doesn't compare to working in my own studio all day, every day - pure heaven!
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