Circles of Change: Conversations with Dr. Zara Larsen
on Change Leadership and Career Fulfillment
July 6, 2008
“My Turn: Returning to Myself ”
Guest: Lynne Yamaguchi
www.lynneyamaguchi.com (520) 760-8938
Anchoring Points:
Perfection is finally attained not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away. Unknown
- My life has been like a rolling stone – six months working, six months searching and moving constantly – including returning to my Japanese roots and living in Japan.
- Studied creative writing, poetry, several Asian languages and publishing before moving to Boston, then to Tucson to edit books in a deadline-driven environment for seven years.
- In late 2002, I confronted that I was dying inside and was desperate to find what would make me happy and give me a sense of joy. The answer – wood turning – came from deep inside of me. The impressions of ceramic Japanese vessels in my hands since childhood came forward.
- Necessity is the mother of invention. If I needed to learn new skills, I just did it. Silk screening, metal working, manufacturing assembly, computer systems. Many, but not all, of my prior skills transferred.
- Wood turning is like editing; whatever is gone cannot be brought back. There are always surprises to be found inside the wood – flaws, knots, protrusions, beautiful, unexpected patterns of growth.
- The titles of my work come out of the process of my interacting with the wood, what I am thinking about – a centering experience – the interaction of the nature of the wood, the nature of my life.
- I stopped writing for years because I didn’t want it to contribute to the noise, and I felt I didn’t have anything to say. Wood turning allows me to express all that I feel in a quiet way, and actually brought me back to writing to support my website, photo journalism and magazine articles.
- My biggest stretch was asking others for help and then selling my work. Surprisingly, some of the happiest moments come when I sit surrounded by my work at art shows and meet potential customers – seeing how many people get the spirit of the work, responding in deeply personal ways.
When confronted with a new venture, just seize any opportunity to invest and explore options – reach for it – so that you will be ready in time when the next steps come.
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