The pot was forgotten in the raku reduction container. All the others had been pulled out, cleaned, checked for cracks, and admired if they made the firing in one piece. There were two vases per can, eight in total. But one pot was left behind for almost a month until today, when I found it while cleaning up the area and containers. Maybe fate planned it that way. Maybe I was being rewarded for showing up to the overlook. It was like finding something that had waited patiently, hidden away, only to be discovered at just the right time.
It made me think about how some talents or people on a team get overlooked in much the same way. They might have exceptional abilities but never speak up or try to stand out. In his book Poke the Box, Seth Godin talks about how we are taught in school to give only just enough. If we give too much, we might be taken advantage of. School prepares us to follow rules, show up on time, and do as we’re told. We are trained to fit into systems, not to shake them. Speaking up and offering new ideas might get us noticed in the wrong way, especially in jobs where leadership frowns on change.
Because of this, a lot of people's best qualities and abilities never get used. We learn to stay quiet, to not risk standing out. But in today's world, where more and more jobs are project based, the people who find and use their gifts often find better clients and better work. They become known not by fitting in but by making change. Sometimes we forget that we have permission to pick ourselves. We do not always need to wait to be picked. We get to choose the change we want to make, even if our boss or leadership does not see it yet.
So raise your hand if you are able. And if you cannot, try just a little and see what happens. It would be a shame to be left in the raku barrel, forgotten, when you have something important to offer. Those gifts could be large or small, loud or quiet. I need to work on this myself. So let your light shine a little brighter, and look for ways to create meaning for yourself and those around you. You might think it is hopeless, but the darker the night, the brighter the light.
If I were living yesterday a second time, I would have:
I was able to do a lot of cleaning and fired a bisque load of pots.
Things I am grateful for:
I was able to relax while I monitored the gas kiln as it fired.
30-Day Abundance Challenge by Carolina Perez Sanz. Day 28:
I cleaned up my cry pile of pottery mistakes. I had an abundance of failures I was able to smash up and toss. Now I have room for more practice.
If I get to live to be 86, I only have:
13082 days left.