I'm Doing Nothing

Thanks April for this fun picture of
AB and me!

I've been writing a lot of posts in my head lately but I've written nothing of it. That's life right now- many things are pushed aside to give myself time to DO NOTHING when I have down time. That's the truth. I really enjoy doing a bunch of nothing. I'm the world's most dedicated blog reader right now.  Sometimes reading is more therapeutic than writing.

Anyhow, I was thinking today about some of the benefits of pushing things aside and how to make the most of it. For example, I got my hair cut last when I was about 5 months pregnant. Then we moved, renovated the studio, held kids camp, bought a kiln, birthed a child, learned how to nurse, sleeplessly cared for a newborn, went back to work 4 weeks postpartum while simultaneously caring for an infant, taught some private lessons, made a bunch of bowls for Empty Bowls, handled PR for Empty Bowls (and sold out of tickets), went to the beach with a 2 month old, became members at our church, showed at two art markets, hosted my sister's young family for a few days, hosted a home pottery show, made it through the holidays spending 6 nights out of town, shipped a bunch of Etsy orders, finished a 4 place dish setting, cooked dinner more times than I have in my entire life, done laundry more times that I have in my entire life and stayed home more than I have in my entire life. And that is the short list.

Sometimes I wonder what good is life if you spend all your time simply taking care of your own. What good impact did I have on this world if I only love and care for those related to me? If I only take care of my daughter, did I really make an impact on this world? Because if I hadn't existed, she wouldn't have either so if I pour everything I have into her, I'm not really making a difference. And really, its easiest to take care of those we know and love and live right under our roof. And we should absolutely do that. But I want my life to reach more than those I'm related to and know and love.

Even the years that are covered in spit up and dog hair (since I rarely leave the house), and sticky fingers - I want them to count for something. Even in small ways. And I honestly don't have the energy or wherewithal to do everything I used to do. I've had to say no to a lot of things lately and it's been good- but hard. For my sanity, I often need to Do Nothing.

So, this year I'm donating my hair. It's a sad truth that there are sick kids out there that need it much more than me and face extremely difficult situations that no one would wish upon a child. And the thing is, I did NOTHING to make my hair grow. I just didn't cut it. It just does as proof of one of God's many gifts to us that he gives us hair and makes it grow. So in this period of my life when I can't do much aside from keep myself, my family and my business alive, I still can pass along the gift of 10 inches of my crazy curly hair to be made into a wig. In a couple of months when the weather warms up and I no longer need my hair to protect my ears and neck from freezing, I will nervously go to the hair salon and have the majority of my hair lobbed off to make 1/8 of a wig for a sick child.

And I'm pretty excited that I can still make a 1/8 of a difference in someone's life without having to do anything but leave the house for a hair cut.

Which is still pretty darn hard.

Happy New Year Ya'll. Love, Lisa

Movie 14 from PotterybyLisa on Vimeo.

~Christmas 2010

Short hair here I come!