The Broken Pieces

Written by Barb

letitallgo

Last year, I let it all go, to see what stayed.

I believe a lot of people are trying to decide what they want to do with their life. I asked a friend, “What were you doing, and at what point in your life were you doing it, that made your heart happy?” We can go back and see what’s there.

My most favorite job was working in a custom frame shop.

It was my first real job, in my 20’s, and I loved cutting glass.

In my 30’s, I was visiting a friend, and she took me on a tour of her stained glass studio. She has just begun making it, and had a few pieces hanging in her home. I loved the way the light came through, and became colored light.

She was a good bit older than me, and her kids were grown.

I admired her for doing this later in life, like there were no rules on when to begin. Visiting with her that day planted a seed in my heart. Now, some twenty years later, I have taken my first stained glass class. It was a basic cutting class, and there I was, loving the sound of the glass being scored. Breaking it into desired the pieces.

The teacher strolled by and said, “You are a natural at this.”

Letting go of the pieces of me that have accumulated over the years, revealed a piece lost, and forgotten. Here’s to making something beautiful with the broken pieces.

15 thoughts on “The Broken Pieces”

  2. Great examination of life! I’m doing the same. Throwing out what isn’t working for me because it was chosen by someone else other than me. My course was designed for me. It took me this long to figure that out. As I round the last corner to 50 I have rediscovered the gems of my youth. For me it’s like meeting an old friend I haven’t seen in a very long time.

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    1. This is beautiful. I’m a firm believer that the first 50 years of life is just practice. After 50, we are capable of using what we’ve learned, and to share with others. Here’s to the path of rediscovery! xx

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  3. Good for you for sticking with this interest, and finding the time and courage to pursue it. I think we often turn to what our instincts tell us as we age, and we start listening more to our inner voices and less to the outside voices telling us what we “must” do. Enjoy your class, and I bet you make beautiful stained glass pieces!

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  6. I think my favourite job had to have been production manager in a woodworking factory making solid wood furniture and housewares. At times, reshaping boards through many processes and making them into furniture felt genius.

    I’m sure it is the same way with glass, breaking and remolding to form an idea or picture. The process of breaking things down and recreating is so satisfying.

    Best to you in your class!

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    1. Do you still work with wood? Or maybe that fell over into reshaping something else?

      My daughter accidentally dropped a delicate champagne flute the other night. The sound of it breaking didn’t bother me one little bit. I’m becoming accustomed to that sound. Thank you! xx

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      1. Not as much as I used to, but I still love it when I get a chance.

        Yes, it did spill over into something else metaphorically, but not otherwise associated. My latest projects have been in the area of reshaping reality. It’s mostly experimental for now. Who couldn’t use a little more positive reality?

        Perhaps your daughter has a bit of your genes, and your penchant for breaking the glass.

        The best to you and yours!

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      2. I’m glad that the love for it stayed with you!

        Your comment is most intriguing! I guess in a sense, that is what we did 5 years ago. Reshaped our reality into a beautiful life.

        Oh my, she was upset, but held it together very well. I’ve been trying to show her, things get broken, but if they are true to our hearts, they will be replicated.

        Thank you, and the same to you and yours! xx

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