A few weeks ago, I celebrated my friend's birthday by hosting her friends and sister for a painting party. We made paintings about things/places/memories/dreams we love. I ended up painting a picture of building blocks I played with as a child. It was a time of pure creativity, a core memory that still sits with me today, is a big part of my "why," and is an internal space I try to return to often.
While watching an episode about creativity on Brain Child, I was reminded of why we often lose our creativity as we get older. We make less space for it, as our lives become filled with other things that require a lot of attention. As I was sitting there with my son and thinking about all the responsibility and awareness we are creating for him, I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt for doing anything that takes him away from creative time. As a mom and a full-time artist, my capacity to do much of anything diminishes with more responsibility, lack of sleep, and busy schedules. No wonder I enjoyed this painting session so much - a quick pause in the hurry, a quick moment for creativity not attached to anything but finding space. Finding pause.
It's easy to forget the simple joys that bring us peace and connection. Even I take for granted items in my home that offer just this. But there are moments to connect, to take a pause everywhere. It’s the mindset I need to work on.
This brings me to my mug cabinet. I have a very hefty collection of handmade mugs (and a few that aren’t, but are so sentimental I just can’t part with them), and I choose a mug each morning from which to drink my coffee. I generally rotate between 3-5 mugs, depending on the season, the color, the handfeel, and the amount of sleep from the night before.
Every morning, I have a chance to pause, to touch the handles, to feel the rim on my lips, to see the steam rising, to feel the heat on my throat, to taste the light roasted beans we are obsessed with. And maybe this isn’t a moment for creativity, but it is a moment for observation - what do I love? Why do I keep choosing it? What does this object evoke that I revisit every day? From here, from being present in my pause, from this reflection, I can take a breath. A breath that can fuel the rest of it. A chance to be in the moment with these beautiful objects every single day.
Handmade pottery is more than just beautiful objects; it's an embodiment of care, craftsmanship, and the quiet moments that create those pauses. I invite you to enjoy a peaceful morning with a handmade pot coupled with food or drink, be it a mug, a plate, or a cup.
I wrote out an exercise that might bring you into a pause to fuel your own creativity and connection to an object. Give it a chance for two weeks (they say two weeks creates a habit, right?) Write about it. See what comes up for you. I will do the same. I’ll share on my stories. And remember! There's no right or wrong here.
Meditation on Pottery
- Connection: Pick out a handmade pot from your collection and find spot to sit. Set a timer for five minutes. Start with a few deep breaths to clear out your mind. Notice what’s there, but don’t judge. Allow your energy to settle on this one task. When you are ready, pick up the pot you chose. Observe the sensations from this object. Try not to judge. When you timer goes off, take notes of your observations on your phone. Did you notice something new? Did anything surprise you? Did you find your thoughts running away? Judging what you were holding?