As a counterpoint to my last post about intention and meaning—this is the part that comes before all that. There’s a quiet trap in trying to be cool. You have an idea. You can see it in your head. A vase, a song, a phrase, a life. But before you take the first step, the thought creeps in: what if this looks desperate? What if it’s cringe? So you wait. You polish the thought. You keep it in the idea stage. You stay cool. And nothing happens. The gap between idea and result isn’t bridged by being cool. It’s bridged by showing up, trying things, failing in full view. By saying, I made this, even if it’s lopsided. By being sincere in a world allergic to sincerity. I’ve had to walk through that space many times. The clay collapsing. The shapes I imagined turning out clumsy. The silence after posting something I cared about. And yet—on the other side—form emerges. You cannot skip the part where you are cringe. It’s the bridge itself. Credit to @ash.lmb for the original version with the diamond. I made this pottery version inspired by their brilliant concept. 2nd slide AI generated. Prompt: “Whimsical storybook-style illustration, soft watercolor look, warm earthy tones. #pottery #ceramics #handmade