My own writing tends to circle around the metaphor of fragmentation. It's everywhere in culture right now. It makes sense. Lately though, I'm wondering how I could challenge myself to write more about wholeness. You touched on both here so well. I think I'm starting to see it more as a cyclical breaking and coalescing back into a whole. There's beauty in that.
I love pottery throwdown! Everyone I've introduced to this show has this same initial impression of Keith. We are so suspicious of tenderness. We think anytime someone allows this side of themselves to be seen, that it must be a performance of some kind.
yes i love the idea of the cyclical breaking and coalescing. I think that's what i love so much about the idea of pottery being this full cycle of clay on the wheel, forming it, and destroying and reusing it if the piece doesn't work. Writing can be like that too!
Ughhh yeah i love that show, i haven't watched it in years admittedly, but Keith is a gem! it's actually nice hearing that other people had the same reaction. You're right that there's suspicion of tenderness, especially from a man!
“ My brain and heart cannot hold onto anything. Some days I am completely wrecked, a heap of shards on the floor that I must carefully pick through. Other times I am merely cracked.”
Saved this to read when I had the minutes to savor it, and am glad I did. I read it in the midst of a lot of tears and feeling at the end of an ability to break and repair yet again. And yet somehow, your words have helped me mix the glue—and even add a bit of gold. Thank you.
This is a beautiful and moving piece. Thank you for sharing and for being so vulnerable. I too feel broken in this moment, hopefully we can all glue the pieces back together into something even more beautiful.
"One evening I went to pick her up from class. The trees were orange and yellow...." This is a tableau. It is an image that is imprinted on my brain. I keep rereading to add the detail to a scene that is art. Beautiful.
I don’t know how to live through this world where everything we touch eventually breaks, and yet somehow, in this utter loneliness, we meet ourselves in the deepest possible way. Perhaps it is the paradox of living, perhaps broken things are more beautiful because they have truly lived.
“Each day something deeply annoying happens, and I am confronted with the awareness that I am not as resilient as I would like to be.” REAL.
A friend who practices kintsugi recently helped me mend a pot and I love it even more now than I did before it broke. She taught me the quick and dirty way but she also practices the traditional method that takes months and months. Such a patient, beautiful, profound process. Thank you for sharing this.
It was quick! Because she was teaching me it was maybe an hour? But if it was just her doing it I bet it would've only taken her like 20 mins. We filed the edges slightly, applied this putty-like adhesive, then brushed it with gold dust. I took it home and let it cure for 24 hours and then wiped it with an alcohol swab and that was it! I think if I was mending something that needed to be safe for eating/drinking from it might have changed the process a bit too.
I’ve felt something similar lately, though I’d describe myself more like a $2 IKEA colander than a tenderly-mended vessel. Everything slips through these days. Reading this helped mend something in me, though. Thank you.
hahah the $2 IKEA colander idea made me laugh, i would probably be another cheap kitchen appliance... i'm glad that this piece was helpful! appreciate you!
I felt this so deeply. I've gone through a few different periods like this in my life, broken and constantly turning inward, feeling estranged and not sure how, or what, to say to those around me. Beautiful and evocative writing, thanks for sharing it.
This is beautiful, Michael. Thanks for sharing!
My own writing tends to circle around the metaphor of fragmentation. It's everywhere in culture right now. It makes sense. Lately though, I'm wondering how I could challenge myself to write more about wholeness. You touched on both here so well. I think I'm starting to see it more as a cyclical breaking and coalescing back into a whole. There's beauty in that.
I love pottery throwdown! Everyone I've introduced to this show has this same initial impression of Keith. We are so suspicious of tenderness. We think anytime someone allows this side of themselves to be seen, that it must be a performance of some kind.
yes i love the idea of the cyclical breaking and coalescing. I think that's what i love so much about the idea of pottery being this full cycle of clay on the wheel, forming it, and destroying and reusing it if the piece doesn't work. Writing can be like that too!
Ughhh yeah i love that show, i haven't watched it in years admittedly, but Keith is a gem! it's actually nice hearing that other people had the same reaction. You're right that there's suspicion of tenderness, especially from a man!
“ My brain and heart cannot hold onto anything. Some days I am completely wrecked, a heap of shards on the floor that I must carefully pick through. Other times I am merely cracked.”
Saved this to read when I had the minutes to savor it, and am glad I did. I read it in the midst of a lot of tears and feeling at the end of an ability to break and repair yet again. And yet somehow, your words have helped me mix the glue—and even add a bit of gold. Thank you.
wow, that means the world to hear that this was helpful for someone! really appreciate you and all your work :)
Back atcha :)
And it was — came in at just the right time for me.
I admire your vulnerability, this was really beautiful.
thanks JoAnn :)
This is a beautiful and moving piece. Thank you for sharing and for being so vulnerable. I too feel broken in this moment, hopefully we can all glue the pieces back together into something even more beautiful.
Thanks so much -- i think we can! i'm trying to stay hopeful!
this took my breath away. 🤍
appreciate you Lindsey <3 thanks for reading
"One evening I went to pick her up from class. The trees were orange and yellow...." This is a tableau. It is an image that is imprinted on my brain. I keep rereading to add the detail to a scene that is art. Beautiful.
this is so kind, thank you Lydia. Means a lot to me!
I don’t know how to live through this world where everything we touch eventually breaks, and yet somehow, in this utter loneliness, we meet ourselves in the deepest possible way. Perhaps it is the paradox of living, perhaps broken things are more beautiful because they have truly lived.
Thank you for this gorgeous piece, dear friend.
deeply appreciative of you, Swarnali :) I'm excited to catch up on your recent pieces soon! I've been falling behind...
Go at your own pace dear one.. you are seen and loved
“Each day something deeply annoying happens, and I am confronted with the awareness that I am not as resilient as I would like to be.” REAL.
A friend who practices kintsugi recently helped me mend a pot and I love it even more now than I did before it broke. She taught me the quick and dirty way but she also practices the traditional method that takes months and months. Such a patient, beautiful, profound process. Thank you for sharing this.
Wow wait that's so cool, how long did the quicker process take? I really would love to learn it. The months-long process blows me away!!
It was quick! Because she was teaching me it was maybe an hour? But if it was just her doing it I bet it would've only taken her like 20 mins. We filed the edges slightly, applied this putty-like adhesive, then brushed it with gold dust. I took it home and let it cure for 24 hours and then wiped it with an alcohol swab and that was it! I think if I was mending something that needed to be safe for eating/drinking from it might have changed the process a bit too.
This is beautiful, Michael.
I’ve felt something similar lately, though I’d describe myself more like a $2 IKEA colander than a tenderly-mended vessel. Everything slips through these days. Reading this helped mend something in me, though. Thank you.
hahah the $2 IKEA colander idea made me laugh, i would probably be another cheap kitchen appliance... i'm glad that this piece was helpful! appreciate you!
Beautiful. <3
thank you so much Raechel!
Loved this so much that I am looking up pottery and the art of Kintsugi
i'm excited to hear what you come up with! i am by no means an expert, but it seems like a beautiful art form
Beautiful.
<3
Beautiful, you are a vessel redolent of kintsugi, a noble, humble and honest person.
that's very kind, thank you Kara!
I felt this so deeply. I've gone through a few different periods like this in my life, broken and constantly turning inward, feeling estranged and not sure how, or what, to say to those around me. Beautiful and evocative writing, thanks for sharing it.
really appreciate that Skylar!
So gorgeous.
thanks so much!
Love the sincerity in your writing. I feel like my thoughts are a bit kinder now, having read this.
i love that :')