tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post2245717189274285951..comments2023-10-20T08:52:24.875-07:00Comments on this artist's life:: lack of gratitudeWhitney Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-85864535583452532622014-05-23T21:20:45.482-07:002014-05-23T21:20:45.482-07:00So right! It is so easy to focus on that which we ...So right! It is so easy to focus on that which we don't have.--like time. there's never enough. and energy. that too. But I am grateful for: my new studio shed sitting in my yard brimming with possibilities. The five minutes here and there, between tending to kiddos, where I can sneak out there and throw a pot or trim a platter. I am grateful for that first successful test run of my ancient kiln that I bought off craigslist without even knowing if it worked! It works!! (good thing, too, because this brand doesn't exist anymore) Grateful for the online yardsale i joined on facebook so i could sell crap i don't need and buy clay instead. Grateful for the support of my family--always steadfast, always cheering me on. And you, Whitney. Grateful for you-- your honesty, your inspiration, your talent. Your pots were the first ones I ever saw and thought, wow. I need to get into this more seriously. you are awesomesauce!Sarah's Poesyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00051994194733849983noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-87456935268680271672014-05-23T11:36:39.338-07:002014-05-23T11:36:39.338-07:00Thanks Patricia! I'm grateful that people find...Thanks Patricia! I'm grateful that people find answers in the things I write.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-83504363290599778842014-05-23T11:36:01.192-07:002014-05-23T11:36:01.192-07:00I love the concept, thank you for the link.I love the concept, thank you for the link.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-22402370433816484152014-05-22T21:17:16.343-07:002014-05-22T21:17:16.343-07:00Am grateful for your openness and honesty. Recentl...Am grateful for your openness and honesty. Recently, I was evaluating whether or not to go deeper into wholesaling and I ran across some info I had printed out from your blog from way back in 2008 on the "rules of wholesale." When I reread them, it reconfirmed my decision not to put any more eggs in that basket.<br /><br />Anyway, I'm just wanting you to know that I appreciate all the experience and words of wisdom that you share. Am grateful!Patricia Griffin Ceramicshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11205981725964222971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-5571964053559103332014-05-19T20:34:54.296-07:002014-05-19T20:34:54.296-07:00I am thinking you may be interested in http://topf...I am thinking you may be interested in http://topfivemovement.com/ This is something my husband's cousin is promoting. Your 5 gratitude statements is a very similar concept. If Claire is anything to go by, this brings a lot of peace and energy. I am impressed that you have considered gratitude as a means to a better life. Life is so hectic it can be easy to forget to give thanks for what we do have and not always be looking for more, more, more. Good luck with your month long experiment. Check out Claire's web site, it might just spur you on. JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15597652623447564987noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-38041309942546718062014-05-19T09:14:42.488-07:002014-05-19T09:14:42.488-07:00Thanks Sheelagh! You are a dream customer and I am...Thanks Sheelagh! You are a dream customer and I am grateful to have you as a longtime client! (Now how do I clone you?)Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-40036086490345515552014-05-18T15:56:16.945-07:002014-05-18T15:56:16.945-07:00I am grateful for many things: that my family (chi...I am grateful for many things: that my family (children and their children - and even my great grandchildren) all live in the same city as I do and I get to see them regularly. That I can escape the winters here in Alberta and spend them in Hawaii where it is simply beautiful and relaxing. That I have been able to purchase some of the very best pieces of pottery over the years, including some like the little leaf, and tile and the most recent bowls, that are rare - and also share with my family and friends the exquisite pieces from your shop and absolutely know they love them too! Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us who only know you from the internet and our dealings with you. It is almost like we know you personally - I laughed out loud when you bought yet another journal.... something I would definitely be doing as well... I love paper goods! Know that many of us here in Canada (and some in Hawaii have received gifts!) use your pottery with pride. You can be very proud of your accomplishments. (And your paperwork was exquisite as well!)Sheelaghhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14496735644672453648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-37373144851700696412014-05-17T16:32:55.342-07:002014-05-17T16:32:55.342-07:00Thank you, Whitney! Thank you, Whitney! Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250615141952203750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-6180943199229946542014-05-16T18:56:01.100-07:002014-05-16T18:56:01.100-07:00The thing I like about this practice is that it m...The thing I like about this practice is that it makes me pay more attention to what I can be grateful for so I can write it down later. So I feel like I am appreciating more.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-86727709176296025962014-05-16T10:23:57.703-07:002014-05-16T10:23:57.703-07:00Every time I read one of your posts I sit there no...Every time I read one of your posts I sit there nodding ... yep ... oh, yep, I do that too ... I guess I'm not the only one ...<br /><br />I can be such a negative person, to myself and others. I don't like that about myself. About a year ago I decided to change it.<br /><br />I write 5 things I'm grateful for each day. Sometimes the things I'm grateful for are big and sometimes they're tiny. But when I skip a day I notice an instant difference. The nasty, negative voice makes a quick comeback both in my head and coming out of my mouth. <br /><br />I skipped yesterday. But you have inspired me to give today a better start. <br />Today I am grateful for: ... cooler weather ... my son's sweet, smiling face ... my cat insisting that I pet him good morning ... a good laugh first thing in the morning ... and a new book for tonight. <br /><br /><br />Really we have so much to be grateful for. All of us. No matter how bad things are, there's always something wonderful if you just look for it. :) Giselle https://www.blogger.com/profile/16748697257685344609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-27880041133835050282014-05-16T08:54:54.570-07:002014-05-16T08:54:54.570-07:00It's so easy to focus on what we don't hav...It's so easy to focus on what we don't have, human nature seems geared that way, I guess that is what makes us such great inventors and also such efficient destroyers of beautiful things. Congratulations on the new nephew, babies are so much fun.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-15742899803985513282014-05-16T08:53:07.673-07:002014-05-16T08:53:07.673-07:00I was WONDERING where that pot went that disappear...I was WONDERING where that pot went that disappeared the last time you were visiting!Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-1150147879474368032014-05-16T08:52:22.801-07:002014-05-16T08:52:22.801-07:00I never really had a career or many jobs outside o...I never really had a career or many jobs outside of pottery except for working flower shops, which was pretty low-stress. But I do try to remind myself that life could have taken a different turn, and I could be sitting in Bay Area traffic right now, trying to get to work and wishing I could be in my studio!Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-66169046977060279542014-05-16T08:50:51.363-07:002014-05-16T08:50:51.363-07:00What a nice morning you are having! I agree that t...What a nice morning you are having! I agree that the ego can serve us while still undermining our well-being, it takes constant awareness to keep it in check.Whitney Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00491079459627713472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-78499178451345665362014-05-16T08:42:28.507-07:002014-05-16T08:42:28.507-07:00Thank you for this reminder -- I often find myself...Thank you for this reminder -- I often find myself caught up focusing on all the things that feel absent and unfulfilled, but that isn't at all how I want to live. So...I am grateful for the long days of summer, the feel of grass under my bare feet, the wonderful shapes and textures of flowers and trees, the warmth and fragrance of chai held in a favorite cup, the chance to sit at a wheel and center my thoughts on porcelain spinning beneath my fingertips, and for a new nephew born this week. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04250615141952203750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-71011680151341116612014-05-16T08:19:28.265-07:002014-05-16T08:19:28.265-07:00I'm grateful I have a sister that writes blog ...I'm grateful I have a sister that writes blog posts for me to read and makes pottery for me to steal off of her shelves. <br /><br />xoBrena Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13951126052631417848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-17078982379593187052014-05-16T07:02:38.088-07:002014-05-16T07:02:38.088-07:00I spent 20 years working as a graphic designer bef...I spent 20 years working as a graphic designer before I was able to make pots full-time. I'm glad I had that career, I'm also glad it's over. Whenever I feel stressed or unmotivated about my pottery work, I remind myself about all of the worst aspects of design work, mostly having to do with stupid clients and their crazy personalities. It makes me aware that I now follow my own aesthetic goals, set my own deadlines, free of crazy people and their unreasonable needs. And I feel very grateful about that. Mea Rheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00083673902101245673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36001820.post-89078569293549196052014-05-16T05:31:46.157-07:002014-05-16T05:31:46.157-07:00This morning I am grateful for my new baby chicks ...This morning I am grateful for my new baby chicks that are asleep in their crate in my living room ( my Mother's Day gift) and for my daughter, home from college and upstairs asleep in her bed, and this quiet morning with only the sound of rain falling outside while I drink my coffee and read some blogs.<br />It's hard to give that ambition monster a rest, it's a greedy and ungrateful being, but it also drives us to create..... There just has to be a constant balancing....Tracey Broomehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14560971496423789576noreply@blogger.com