Author Archives: John Swinburn

Squeeze a sponge so hard it becomes dry as the desert, utterly devoid of moisture.  When the sponge becomes so dry that it attracts the water of every river and stream, when the seas seek it out, when  oceans empty themselves in their search … Continue reading →

It’s inexplicable, the outpouring of emotion and tears and love for the universe that follows a few moments of staring upward at the stars on a night so utterly black and empty and alone.  On that night, the sky is … Continue reading →

Take a few moments, now, to consider all the uses you have for electricity.  Contemplate how your life will be different should its ready availability becomes a thing of the past.

I wondered what causes smiles.  I know, emotionally, what causes us to smile, but I wanted to know more.  Here’s what I found: …emotional data funnels to the brain, exciting the left anterior temporal region in particular, then smolders to … Continue reading →

I read a compelling argument that addiction is not a problem of chemical dependency but is, instead, an attachment disorder, with drugs or alcohol replacing personal connections. That puts a whole new perspective on the war on drugs and AA.

Remember those moments in which you are reminded why love is second only to sustenance, and maybe even second to none.

Don’t scold the sky for being too bright or too dark, lest your arrogance be challenged by the sun and moon.

Ask for help in achieving those hard goals, even if they are deeply personal and you’re the only one with the capacity to achieve them. Everyone can benefit from a cheering section.

If you have to ask what you can learn about being human by spending time observing the natural world, you have not spent enough time observing the natural world.

“Just kidding.” “I’m just poking fun.” If the qualifier is necessary, the comment being qualified is not; in fact, the comment being qualified should be retracted. An apology is in order.