12 Comments
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Laura Nicol's avatar

So good. Thank you, Alison.

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Alison Acheson's avatar

You're welcome, Laura!

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Susan's avatar

Very thoughtful and well-expressed essay on writing, and why we do it. Makes me think I need to sit down and write an essay on what keeps me from writing! And yes, pottery, I imagine is self-soothing. I took a pottery class in high school and it's almost magical how a pot can grow from a lump of wet clay.

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Alison Acheson's avatar

The act of the pot growing, taking shape in and under your hands... I do think that some writing days have that same sense to them...

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Jolene Handy's avatar

These quotes! Your framing of them! Superb! More and more (as I get older) I think less and less about the “why” and do things because I find them pleasing — and the kicker is, when I’m soothed by whatever it is, it resonates with others. Thank you, Alison!

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Alison Acheson's avatar

So true--about how it resonates!

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Cindy's avatar

This is what I needed to read today.

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Alison Acheson's avatar

I am glad it came out as it did, then.

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Lisa Rivard's avatar

Therapy in a bottle...or lovely piece of pottery, as it were. Thank you for sharing!

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Alison Acheson's avatar

Thank you for reading, Lisa!

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Jody Shapiro's avatar

The art of self soothing is so important the older we get because the ruffled feathers seem to come faster and faster, as do the crow feet on the face and the saggy skin on the arms. Thank you for this lovely piece!

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Alison Acheson's avatar

Faster and faster, yes... true. It's a skill that applies to most things.

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