Both chefs and antique shop owners are novices, likewise it is difficult to converse with those folks who failed to make the grade as pottery professionals

The above was said by a certain chef who was a pottery aficionado.

I should share with the reader that, when much younger, I heard lots of different things from people who were involved in various professions that saw them handle pottery.

To wit, on occasion, I was told by certain chefs that they felt it was difficult to physically place their cuisine on my tableware. Likewise, I also remember when my tea bowls were described as being essentially unfit for purpose. Still other customers were liberal with their free advice in that they offered the “helpful” suggestion that I consider spending more time and effort in investigating further the nature of certain old and established pieces. Regarding them, I would assume that the persons concerned possessed some expectation that I would prove very capable in copying the styles of others.

What other reminiscences may I share? Somebody once offered the following pithy comment: “even if you look at 100 examples of cheap and nasty work, that won’t improve your skills.” Meanwhile, another kindly soul said, “with such a thin layer of glaze on the foot of some of your vessels, all that is achieved is the rather heavy scratching of table surfaces.” Likewise, yet another card mentioned, “even if you are planning to save money, it would be acceptable to splash your cash on occasion so as to make sure you get to eat some delicious cuisine.” I must admit that such thoughts were heard by me with some regularity in my younger days.

Concerning such interactions, at the time I was not really that understanding of the views thus expressed. Indeed, I attempted to rebel against them sometimes. However, courtesy of the insight that comes with the acquiring of age, I can now better appreciate at least some of what previously transpired. Regarding such a mea culpa on my part, as my professional skills improved, I began to develop and store a body of knowledge upon which I could better rely, and accordingly there was a change both within me and with respect to my overall outlook. Meanwhile, when I was younger, there was a certain discomfort that I experienced when told by others that I was not necessarily using all my brains. Jumping forward to the present, however, I am conscious that on occasion I resort to expressing similar thoughts to those I once despised. Thus, I feel the need to reflect on certain aspects of my previous and younger self. 

Concerning the passage of time and the acquisition of age, I know that my life has become one of greater repetition. However, if I consider the conviction of those persons who mentioned certain things to me previously, and if I compare such to finding myself to be on the receiving end of thoughts that are based upon limited real knowledge, I think that I am cognizant enough to perceive that a difference between those two scenarios exists.

To explain that construct differently, if I consider the skills that I have personally acquired as a potter, and likewise if I have both a concurrent awareness of the knowledge possessed by chefs of pottery vessels and those insights that antique dealers have, then when conversing with one another, I feel that it is possible to undertake such mutual interactions at a rather high state of consciousness. Indeed, I have heard of similar being experienced over the years by chefs, antique specialists, and tea folks of a similar age to me. What is more, on occasion when talking with actors and master carpenters, I have been able to come away feeling that I could agree with what was said.

There is a program in which questions are asked of street professionals. Regarding it, and the building up of more and more experience, my belief is that it might well result in further conversations between professionals of different backgrounds. In looking to the future, I try my best to not alienate my younger colleagues by attempting to point out to them things that are blatantly obvious. Instead, when I have something to say, I do so with conviction.