{ side two } love thy body

{ Blemishes are constellations. Or: How acne can inspire ceramic vases. }

For years acne has been a recurring predicament in my life.  A few years ago, during an emotionally dark night, I was lying in bed and decided that I would imagine every single blemish as stars that illuminated my room.  I had stars scattered across my cheeks, forehead, and nose.  Those tiny stars lit my dark room and mind.

And now, years after that night, there are still days when stars scatter my cheeks. But I mind less now, simply because imagination is powerful, courage giving, and transformative.

When the vase I was forming began to take on an irregular shape, I started to see a face emerge. And I knew this face would have stars scattered all across her cheeks and nose, too.  

Even blemishes—especially our blemishes—contain every possibility to inspire the making process .  .  .

Sometimes I imagine that mustard fields only exist because of every person that has fallen in love. And every time you fall in love with someone or something, you know: a mustard field somewhere is bound to return in springtime.