Alright, while we’re on this, here’s another super unexpected, kinda tough dynamic of running this massive pottery studio…
Every month we have a wave of new members starting here at The Clay Hole.
One by one, I introduce myself to each of them. And I’m starting to be more cautious of doing it because…
Most people who join already know who I am. Most of them are long time followers.
And because of that, sometimes… People are scared shitless when I say hi.
Or they have this need to immediately knock me down a peg.
Or they show up with a predetermined idea of who I am and how we’re going to hit it off immediately.
Ahem.
Let me start by saying, please do not put me or anyone else in this world up on a pedestal. I promise, all three of those difficult scenarios come from doing just that.
If you’re scared shitless when you first meet me, it’s because I’m up on some pedestal before you ever walk in the door.
These are the people who just tend to stare when I say hi, and I can tell they can’t wait for me to move on as quickly as possible.
For those who feel a need to knock me down a peg, it’s because you’ve got me up on this mental pedestal.
This one is actually very common with statements blurted out like, “just so you know, I don’t really care about how big your following is.”
It’s as if you want to make sure I don’t think I’m better than you.
Well, I don’t. And I’m not.
Anyways, finally, there are the people who have decided before they even walk in the door that we’re gonna be besties or lovers or who knows what.
I’m sure you can deduce your own reasons why that’s an impossible situation.
Friends, pedestals are really fucking stupid. There is no human on this earth who should ever be put up on one.
I get it. I have around three million followers and some of you have followed me online for as many as fifteen years.
But here are a few truths to remind yourself of before you walk in the door…
One… I may have 3 million followers, but I’ve also lost about 7 million followers to get there. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and the numbers love to remind me of that.
Two… When I’m put on a pedestal, there’s no way to go but down. Have you ever heard the term, “never meet your heroes?”
Well, do you know why they say that? It’s because fans and followers fill in the 99.9% of details about the people they don’t really know but they think they know, and then they’re disappointed when that person is something completely different.
It a betrayal of sorts to them.
So, let’s make a deal. You join The Clay Hole. And you forget everything you think you know about me before we get to meet.
And then let’s just shake hands like two everyday humans who are meeting for the first time.
Because I promise, that’s all we are.
Deal?
Love me or hate me for who I am after you get to know me. That’s all I ask. If you can do that, I bet we will actually be good pals.
