BE A BIRD OF HAPPINESS, YOU TOO DESERVE IT!
GOAL ORIENTATED CERAMICS
A student recently told me that her husband is goal orientated
It made me ask myself what is the goal of a ceramics course in our studio.
1. I decided that first and foremost its an expression of creativity and play in a new but ancient material.
2. It’s an opportunity to take a break from life and daily routine.
3. It’s a chance to socialise.
And so I counted some more.
Right at the bottom of the list is the actual ceramic product, the physical result of our creatively spent time. We all know, ceramics can be bought anywhere from Hreljic to Harrods.
All of those other things above cannot be easily found just anywhere. They demand commitment of time. Which in itself is a luxury these days.
To allow ourself to have time for our creative hobby is a gift of time we give to ourself. The ceramics we create are a beautiful bonus and can be gifted or kept, used every day or placed on a display. They remind us of a beautiful creative, grounding time we spent socialising and enjoying playing with clay.
More than that, they remind us that taking time for ourselves is not selfish — it is essential.
Engaging in creative hobbies like ceramics has been shown to reduce stress, foster emotional resilience, and even sharpen our ability to solve problems in everyday life.
When we allow our minds and hands to work together freely, without judgment or rigid goals, we create space for imagination to grow. We strengthen the part of us that is flexible, patient, and open to new ideas — qualities that benefit not just our personal lives, but our professional ones too.
Creativity is like a muscle — it grows stronger the more we use it. Through hobbies like ceramics, we practice thinking in new ways, trying different approaches, and accepting that not everything will turn out perfectly.
This habit of creative thinking doesn’t stay behind at the studio. It walks with us into our work, our relationships, our daily decisions. It teaches us that challenges are not walls but invitations to find another path.
Working with clay also teaches us emotional balance. Some days the clay feels stubborn, resisting our hands. Some days pieces collapse or crack. Yet we learn to breathe through the frustrations, to accept imperfection, and to find beauty in unexpected outcomes.
This quiet, steady resilience that we build through our hands finds its echo in how we handle life’s bigger challenges too.
There is also something deeply healing in the simplicity of a creative hobby.
It grounds us in the present moment, pulling our attention away from worries about tomorrow or regrets about yesterday. We focus on the feel of the clay, the movement of our hands, the unfolding of shape and form — and for a little while, we are fully here, fully alive.
And then there is the gift of connection.
In a ceramics course, we don’t just shape bowls and cups. We shape friendships.
Shared laughter, camaraderie, mutual support and encouragement come,naturally and easily. They help to weave a web of community. We feel that we are not alone in our struggles or our celebrations.
the quiet time of simply being present in the moment is precious .
Research has also shown that hobbies help develop leadership qualities.
By embracing the vulnerability of learning something new, by practicing patience and persistence, we cultivate the same qualities that make compassionate and resilient leaders — whether in our families, our workplaces, or our communities.
In today’s busy world, to carve out time for creativity is an act of gentle bravery.
It is a way of saying: I deserve this.
I deserve to create.
I deserve to rest.
I deserve to be more than just productive — I deserve to be whole.
Every small bowl, every slightly crooked mug, every plate or vase that emerges from our hands is not just an object — it is a story.
A moment where we gave ourselves permission to slow down, to explore, to play, to connect, and to honour the creative spirit that lives quietly inside all of us.