When I moved to the country in 1982, I was back working by myself, by choice. I chose to live as inexpensively as possible so I would have the time to focus on learning about myself, something I didn’t have much time for when I was building my company in Richmond.

I could do this because I had a strong networking system with other artisans who would contact me when they saw the potential for my art when working on their projects. Networking was the norm before the Internet. If someone referred you, you were usually accepted on their word.

Working alone has its ups and downs. Being able to focus without being distracted often left my mind in a state where I lost track of time and was able to gain full involvement in my work. I was genuinely enjoying my work again.

At other times, I was critical of myself. I was slow, unable to find the needed tools, and daydreaming instead of focusing on the project before me.

As years passed, I would find someone to help when my workload increased. It was almost always temporary for a few weeks.

I soon found myself critical of this new person in my shop. They were too slow, didn’t use the proper tools, and tended to let their minds drift. I never said anything to them directly, but I’m sure they could see the dissatisfaction on my face.

One day, it occurred to me that I was accusing them of the same shortcomings I sometimes find in myself. Now that I had a “captive” person to project my shortcomings onto, could I hide them from myself?

Was this some kind of one-way mirror effect so I felt better by blaming someone else instead of myself?

Now, when I see someone doing something that seems “stupid,” I ask myself if this is a part of me that is “below the surface” and that I should look inside to learn more about myself.