Author Archives: John Swinburn

So, today, I begin my pottery-making in earnest.  Yesterday, I attended my first (and last) drawing class.  The instructor’s demeanor, coupled with her plan for the class, turned me off. I opted to drop the class; I am sure I … Continue reading →

Aches and pains in elbows and arms remind me I am no longer a teenager. Surly knees that won’t cooperate, even when cajoled, confirm that advanced age coincides with cantankerousness. Still, I shouldn’t complain. It would do no good.  Would … Continue reading →

Sometimes, when strangers offer unexpected kindness—little things—I tend to be suspicious of their motives. My brain gives me an alert: this is someone who has no reason to be kind to me—what’s the catch? But, then, I realize the shoe may be on the other … Continue reading →

Somewhere between the discomfort and enjoyment surrounding social interaction, the questions are bound to arise: Do I really like being “social” or is it an obligation imposed on me externally?  If I were to withdraw from social obligations, would my life … Continue reading →

Early mornings provide the solitude I need. They offer the opportunity to contemplate, a luxury unavailable later in the day amidst the noise and activity of life among the living.  The time of day between awakening and sunrise is cerebral time, a … Continue reading →

If you read enough of the news, you will encounter new ideas that are breathtaking in their brilliance. Unfortunately, you also will come across people whose ideas and assertions are thunderously stupid.  Sometimes, it’s hard to tell the difference.

Drinking a glass of perfectly flavored iced-tea is among the finest experiences in life.  

Many people (or should I say most?) reach conclusions without allowing for an impartial and independent assessment of the facts.  That’s too bad.

I’ve often contemplated the differences between craft and art.  I have heard some artists speak in patronizing tones of craftsmen, suggesting the latter are merely ‘mechanics’ who lack the creativity and vision required of true art.  On the other hand, … Continue reading →

I find humility an attractive characteristic in people. It’s an attribute that draws me in.

A few years ago, I came across some very tasty sugar-free popsicles that I came to rely on for treats almost every evening.  I enjoyed orange-flavored, cherry-flavored, and pomegranate-flavored treats that contained only about 15 calories each.  But, suddenly, the makers … Continue reading →

Wishes and dreams stalk me like a predatory hunter, inching closer and closer until they are ready to pounce. The ones that feed on material desires are the easiest to elude.  But those that feed on the soul are relentless.  They are … Continue reading →

We all need help to appreciate our lives on earth.  Often, that help resides within ourselves. When we look within, we may find scars and wounds and painful self-knowledge.  But if we look still deeper, I think we can find wisdom … Continue reading →

I’ve written what would appear, on first blush, to be a children’s story. But it’s not.  It’s an adult’s story (a bit of a fantasy, perhaps), told as a children’s story.  I wonder what that genre is called, if there is … Continue reading →

Sometimes, all that’s necessary is taking time to breathe.

It perplexes me to hear people—including me, sometimes—who judge others, people whose demons appear in the form of frustration or anger. This condemnation arises from the same people who have great empathy for  other people whose demons take the form of depression or suicide.  The results are … Continue reading →

There are times when it’s hard to think of anything to say.  It’s best, at those times, not to say anything.  Sometimes, only action is the appropriate voice and, sometimes, only inaction is the proper means to whisper the words … Continue reading →