What we see in ourselves vs. what others see in us

The works we are most proud of are not necessarily those most admired by others

A few weeks ago I wrote about the works of Anthony (Ant) Morris, of Morris & James Pottery in Matakana, New Zealand. Ant is my brother-in-law’s father. I stayed at his estate in New Zealand at the beginning of the Summer, although sadly I missed meeting Ant in person.

But his “body of work,” as I called it, was there all around.

Only, as he wrote in a gracious email reply, the works I had mentioned aren’t actually what Ant is most proud of for himself. I had completely ignored the things on the property that he looks on as his most significant accomplishments.

It’s a theme I’ve often come back to in my own writing: the difference between how others see us and how we see ourselves. I asked Ant if I could publish his response, and he has granted permission.

Without further adieu: