Happy Valentine’s Day!
Today has me thinking of love, and of course I am pondering the age old eternal question:
I guess I am not the only one who ponders this question, since love has been a topic in literature and art for all time remembered. With all the representations and creations focused on love, you would think the world would have a great understanding of what is love. But I don’t think we are much further ahead of Haddaway!
Love comes in many forms. There is the love we feel for our family, our friends, our pets, children and of course partners. For me, there is also much love and passion I feel for making my art.
New! Spirit Bears are Coming! 
‘Make it Work’ 
Vase Grouping 
Wise Owls 
Thor’s Veil 
Clay Fruit Bowl
I could wax poetically about those I love and I often do. But this is not what this post is about. I am really fortunate to be surrounded by love in my life, which is both intentional and makes me lucky!
At the same time, I have been feeling a lack of love in my life. In today’s world, even though we are more connected than ever by our laptops and devices, it seems like people spend more time alone than ever.
I am also wondering if you grew up thinking that we all had a personal responsibility to help create a world with more love, with more concern and care for others. It is unimaginable to me, the thought we would live in a world where we thought it was better to spend billions of dollars on a wall to keep people out, without considering how much that money could help people.
I think that may be because we are responding from a place of fear and not love. And that is part of the human condition. As people, we have all been hurt and fear is a natural response – when there is real evidence that we might be in danger. But why are we afraid of people who are so poor or persecuted due to a coincidence of where they are born.
If you had $750 million dollars to spend each year, what would you do? Spend it on maintenance for a wall to keep out the people who need your help? I think we can do better! Maybe it is time we thought about these people who are fleeing conditions of extreme violence, a lack of food, political persecution, organized gangs, rape and potential death. Or do we let a billionaire continue to demonize them?
Imagine how much better we could make the world with the cost of the wall being between 8 – 70 billion dollars? I am not saying the United States needs no border security, but why spend more money on this issue when illegal immigration is on the decline?
This Valentine’s Day my heart is with those who are hungry, poor, struggling, emotionally distraught and without a home. Let’s choose love. Let’s find smart ways to balance our fear with love.
Wishing you all a special day filled with smiles and random acts of kindness.
Shocking to think of those dollars and how they’re being spent! These comments explain your beautiful and thoughtful pottery. That little bear is adorable!
Thank you for your kind words! I love the bears! I have made a few of them and will be posting more photos soon! Thank you for stopping by and I hope your week is going well!
There is love in your hands. And your eyes. And all over inside of you. Do you see what you make?
Thank you for such kind words! I see the same in you, in your words. I hope you have a beautiful day and weekend!
I am with you. I hope you have a beautiful day.
Thanks! I hope you do too!
Very nicely crafted works!
Thank you so much! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Sure thing, you too.
I would share the money and try and raise awareness about poverty. Too many people are left behind these days. Education should be shared equally. Corruption should be prosecuted, (sorry to rant)
No need to apologize at all! I feel like poverty is one of the biggest crisis that we face and is spoken of so little. Thanks for sharing and I hope that you have a beautiful weekend!
Cheers x
Agree completely!
I hope you have a great weekend!
I love the white bowl!
Thank you! It is one of my favourite handbuilt pieces I have made! I hope you have a great weekend!
You too, I look forward to more photos. 🙂
Thank you for the sensible, caring words you have written here. You give me a little bit of hope for the world. I feel so lucky to live in New Zealand, and feel so sad for what we see happening in America. There seems to be such a strong push towards hate, fear and revenge. We should all be trying to learn more about the people around us, and looking at how we can help all those less fortunate than ourselves. So, again, thank you for your post.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful comment. I think that you took the time to read this and reply from a place of kindness and hoping for a better world. That gives me hope. It is nice to know there are more people that share these feelings with me, as the news can become very disheartening.
It really does bring hope to know that people share these feelings, especially when there are people from different countries saying the same things. 🙂
Absolutely! I feel it brings more hope to the situation for positive change.
Not only do you have beauty in your pottery, but in your words as well. Never stop voicing what is morally correct. After witnessing again and again what an ignoble leader is capable, one can only hope people from all races, cultures and religions begin to stand together.
Thank you so much for your beautiful words and kind comment. It is my dream that the day will come where people can stand together and figure out ways to help and care for those who need it and build a world where compassion and kindness are the core values. I hope you have a great weekend!
What beauty in your pottery and truth in your words. <)
Thanks so much for your kind comment! I hope you have a beautiful weekend!
Your pottery and bears are beautiful as are your words. True and to the point.
Thank you so much for your very kind words! I hope your week is off to a great start!
I agree. I think the money would be better invested in helping their countries of origin, because few people willingly a leave their countries. They’re forced due to dramatic circumstances. We, as world citizens, because it’s an international/global problem, should be thinking about how to help.
I 1000 percent agree! It would be great to see nations come together to help those who are trapped in unfortunate circumstances. I think far too often people get caught up in fear and forget that those fleeing their country seeking shelter do so because it is safer to do that than stay where they are.
Your pottery is most Beautiful!!
Thank you so much for your kind comment!
You’re most welcome! I have 2 vases made by my high school art teacher eons ago–they’re gorgeous and I cherish them.
That is a lovely memory and story! It is great to collect little treasures from different parts of your life. I bet they are beautiful pieces!
As soon as I saw photos of your work, I wished I were rich enough to purchase some–maybe in the future 🙂 You use a lot of my fave colors–blue/green. Blessings!
You are too kind! It may not surprise you to learn that blues and greens are among my favourite colours 😉 If you decide to get a piece, email me and remind me of this conversation and I can make something that fits into whatever budget you have, I hope you enjoy the rest of your week.
Yesterday my stress was greatly relieved, and joy restored, so I’m sure the remainder of the week and weekend will be good–whew! Best wishes to you, and thanks for the offer–I’ll ponder it awhile 🙂
I am glad to hear your stress was relieved and joy restored. That is a great energy to be moving into! I am hoping the weather is a bit warmer on the weekend for a hike.
I had been away from blogging for a bit–but when I return it’s always so good for me 🙂 It’s the same, but different–people in different phases and seasons–but always welcoming. I guess it’s a New Year’s gift I gave myself–a paid blog 🙂
You enjoy hiking? Where are you located, if I may inquire? I’m just north of Seattle, WA–my activities are limited to my home, sedentary; “hiking” is walking up the small hill to get groceries 🙂 Nice chatting with you!
That is a great gift to give yourself! I have only been around since late last year, and I am happy that people are so kind and welcoming! I am in Atlantic Canada in Nova Scotia, out in the country where we have way more trees than people. The area you live in is so beautiful!
Oh, a Canadian–distant neighbor! I’m a big fan of Rick Mercer, how ’bout you?
I very much enjoy Rick Mercer, he is very funny 😉
He’s funny and brilliant–I’m so sorry his show has ended, it felt like a terrible loss! So I watch the reruns from 12:30am to 2:30 am Sundays 🙂
He is a very funny and nice guy and I always enjoy his comedy and shows! Thank goodness for reruns!
I do hope whatever his new “gig” is that it will be televised so we can enjoy it!
Me too! He is so much fun and very intelligent, I loved his little walking rants 😉
I got my “fix” of him late last night, and yes, his rants are really good…I must confess I love his jabs at our president here 🙂
I am sure you are not the only one who enjoys his rants about your President. I think he give SNL a run for their money 😉
Absolutely! Because Rick has more class–even in his jabs–than SNL usually does 🙂
Heading to bed now, as it’s 7am (yes, I’m an old night-owl!) See you later 🙂
I hope you had a great sleep! You are even more of a night owl then I am! Enjoy your weekend!
You too–stay warm! 🙂
Hello, looks very unique and beautiful, but i think the most important is to enjoy the process🤗
Such a wonderful fruit bowl, great post, you create beauty and that is love shared x
Thank you so much for your very kind words. I hope you are having a wonderful week!
I’ve been having amazing dreams this week that hopefully will inspire a few posts 🙂
I look forward to reading them!