I have always maintained that the school is a good place to make mistakes, and that mistakes, often lead to opportunities. I also know, that mistakes that have been made due to a lack of attention always seem to hurt the most.
A little over a year ago we made the move to Keats Island, just a short passenger ferry crossing and cycle, from our former school and our family in Roberts Creek. We have made the most of our time here, with the primary objective of trying to recreate the creative and supportive environment enjoyed by our students in our former location.
When I think back to our extensive transition business plan, we made several assumptions based on our experiences in setting up the school in Roberts Creek. We have discovered, that just as Jim suggested in the The Impractical Cabinetmaker, that different people, see things in different ways, a concept I have always embraced as a teacher; so too, it is with our ‘different’ location.
Since arriving on the island, we have tried to find suitable, sensibly priced accommodations for our students and in the end, we have come up short, actually we have come up empty:( We have discussed at great lengths, and even considered moving ahead with our long term goal of building onsite accommodations for our students, and feel that more preparation, and discussion is needed, before undertaking such a project.
Was the move to this beautiful place, a mistake? Perhaps? If it was, at least, it was not one made due to the lack of attention. This island has showed us her moods, and it has taken its toll on our health, with it’s hills and its weather. We have come to understand that we need to learn from our new home and evolve.
In the meantime, we continue to live simply, in a beautiful and inspiring place, work at a craft that we love, and feel grateful for the opportunity we were given, to share that craft with so many beautiful people over the years.
This past January, the world lost a beautiful man. He wrote the following passage that I have always believed as words to live (and work) by:
“The manner in which you get ready for work, go to work, and the way you are while you are there affects not only those you work with, but also the quality of your work. Everything we do has an effect on our work. I, myself am a poet but I love working in the garden growing vegetables. One day an American scholar said to me, “Don’t waste your time gardening and growing lettuce. You should write poems instead; anyone can grow lettuce.” That is not my way of thinking. I know very well that if I do not grow lettuce, I cannot write poems. The two are interrelated. Eating breakfast mindfully, washing the dishes, and growing lettuce in mindfulness are essential for me to be able to write poetry well. The way someone washes the dishes reveals the quality of his or her poetry. Similarly, the more awareness and mindfulness we bring to all our daily actions , including our work, the better our work will be.” -Thich Nhat Hanh
We are going to take a rest, go for a long walk, grow lettuce, and find our way home. Be well all of you, enjoy your life and your work.
With wishes of peace, love and gratitude,
Robert & Yvonne