Our extended family gathered for a Seder this past week to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover. This springtime religious holiday often intersects with the Easter celebration. Both religious holidays are based on retelling a story crucial to the root of each faith’s belief. Beyond religion, I think storytelling is integral to all of our lives. It helps us preserve the past, share our ideas and imagine what might happen in the future.
Clay is a central element in my own story. It’s woven in and out of my life since I was 14 years old and is a great reference point and memory trigger for me. I believe every pot I make holds a story. I relay that message with a short written explanation on the back of my business card included with the pots I sell. For me, making pottery is one way I tell my life story.
So what’s your story? How do you share your memories with loved ones and friends? Is there a central theme running throughout your narrative? It can help you tie your own story together and continue to share it with others. We all have stories to tell in our own way.