A visit to Seagrove

I have a friend visiting from Texas, so to let her “experience” some of North Carolina and its areas of interest, we went to the area known as Seagrove today. Seagrove, NC is a small town in Piedmont NC known for handmade pottery. Seagrove and the surrounding area is sometimes referred to as the “pottery capital of NC” and even the world.”

In a rural 20-mile area, there are over 90 pottery shops; pottery making has continued here uninterrupted over the past two centuries. It is a fun and interesting place to visit. There is no way you can make it to all the shops in one visit. It is one of my favorite places to go, so I have favorites that are a “must” each time I go back. In many of the shops, the potters can be viewed as they work on the wheels, shaping the lumps of clay into pitchers, vases, bowls, oil lamps, etc. that will eventually be glazed and fired in wood or gas burning kilns.

Going from shop to shop, some of which are small, rustic structures, is an experience that visitors from all over the world enjoy year round. It is a peaceful setting, the pottery varies in style, shape and glaze, but all beautifully made, and the prices can’t be beat.

A lesson

I have always had a problem with expecting too much from myself. I'm much harder on myself than I am on anyone else. And, while I recognize that in myself, it's funny how seeing other people do the same thing to themselves seems so much harsher. When a friend is aggravated with himself because he has been unable to do something he intended to do, or unable to do it on the time scale he had planned, it bothers me that he is so hard on himself, that he is expecting to be perfect and not allowing himself to make a mistake or misjudgement of time. He sees it as failure, starts feeling badly about himself and questioning his abilities.

Because I care about my friend and know how very hard he works to fulfill commitments and act in an honest, noble manner, it hurts me to see him doing this to himself. It is kind of ironic that when I am beating myself up for not meeting my own expectations, it seems legitimate and appropriate, but when I see someone I care about doing the same thing, it is too harsh and uncalled for. There is a lesson in all this I guess, but very difficult to recognize or remember it when I need to. I suppose I should care more about myself and have a bit of the compassion and understanding for myself that I do for others I care about.

The next time I am down on myself and feeling badly about something I have done wrong or not been able to do, I suppose I should try reminding myself that I wouldn't be so rough on a friend. I would have enough concern and love for a friend to allow them to make mistakes or to not be perfect.