The Year of the Hummingbird Series: January

Sabriya Dobbins, Founder of Project Passport and Life Discovery Expert

As I pulled up to the little blue building on the corner, I had no idea what I was getting into. I walked into the door feeling weird and silly with my pink apron wrapped around my waist, and my hair pulled back into a messy bun. My headband was way too big for comfort. But it did not matter. I was finally trying something that I have always seen online and found it to be cool and maybe even therapeutic.

I was greeted by a kind group of people who had me set up at my desk and told me to pick my colors for painting. I nervously explored the picture pallet and attempted to find colors similar to the Project Passport brand. Within minutes, we were invited to our pottery stations, and the lesson was off to begin. 

As she guided us step by step, I was like: "Okay, I have got this!" 

Well, at least, I thought. By the time I was on the fifth or sixth step of getting my clay to "stick" to the wheel so it could be shaped, it ripped right in half. I was mortified as the other two participants, a cute couple, seemed to figure out their way just fine. I did not want to tell the instructor at first, thinking I could fix it myself. Too late, she caught me and explained that it was not my fault. She suggested that my clay likely already had an air bubble, so it was bound to separate. I felt a sigh of relief as it helped me feel like a little less of a "pottery failure."

But see, that was the problem. This is the Year of the Hummingbird! It is not about failing; it is about doing! It is about moving with the freedom of failing however I please. It is about no wins or losses, just experiences, and lessons. Hummingbirds keep trying flowers for that beautiful nectar. They don't just give up and go hungry for a week; they keep flying, full speed at that!

I finally got through the first clay pot, and it does not look half bad. I realize that the most fun part is when you pull the clay towards you and spin the pottery wheel, whereas the clay formulates into a bowl opening. However, throughout the experience, I've come to realize that this girl right here has NO hand-eye coordination. Trying to use my right foot to turn the wheel up and down while also positioning my hands to mold the pottery…not so good. This makes me wonder, how am I even able to drive?!

We get to the second pot, and the instructor lets us do it on our own. I forget the second step, and before I know it, my clay is flying! She helps me reset, and I am back in the saddle. I am almost done with the bowl and BAM! I lose my footing on the wheel pedal...my bowl gets irregularly bent. I am devastated. Part of me wants to trash the whole thing! My instructor says, "Well, we cannot change it, but perhaps change the shape of the rim?" 

After staring at it for a few moments, I remind myself: "SABRIYA, there are no rules!"

I get to it and mold that bowl into a flower rim, and it comes out so cuuuuute! I am proud of myself. I have finally completed both pots. After a drying phase, I quickly paint them with no direction at all. 

As I paint, I reflect on my natural tendency to turn from things I do not shine at early in the process. As an overachiever, I have almost programmed myself to avoid things that I am not achieving in. I realize how much fun this class could have been if I had stopped judging myself.

I look back at this experience and love myself for doing it. I love myself for remembering the hummingbird that I am inside. I love that I am not that great at pottery, yet if I did it 100 more times, I would probably be a pro. This is what life is about. This is the ride we all must take to find ourselves.

Are there things you have not tried because you are afraid to fail? 

Note: I am waiting for the final pots to be polished so I can pick them up. More pictures of the final product are coming soon!

*****

Thank you to Super Awesome Cool Pottery of Orlando, Florida for the wonderful pottery experience!