Category Archives: Self-discipline

Mediterranean Course Correction

Posted on January 12, 2020 by John Swinburn

I inquired of Google this morning: “What is the Mediterranean lifestyle?” The first answer I found—and the one I intend on adapting as my own—was this, from a blog entitled, The Mediterranean Dish in a post labeled Live the Mediterranean … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Compassion, Doing Without, Empathy, Essay, Generosity, Philosophy, Ruminations, Self-discipline, Selfishness | Leave a comment

Transition to Acceptance

Posted on December 12, 2019 by John Swinburn

The sky is turning bright pink in the east. Earlier, it was orange and the trees against the horizon looked black, as if they were shadows. The day broke in beautiful form. But then I made the mistake of opening … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Anger, Self-discipline, Serenity, Wabi sabi | Leave a comment

Returning to the Empty Well

Posted on April 5, 2019 by John Swinburn

This morning, as I am sometimes wont to do, I wandered aimlessly through some of my old blog posts, looking for evidence of creativity and talent. “Looking” is the wrong word. “Hoping” better describes my motive. What I found did … Continue reading →

Posted in Frustration, Procrastination, Ruminations, Self-discipline, Writing | Leave a comment

Minimal

Posted on January 8, 2017 by John Swinburn

For years, I’ve been drawn to the concept of a minimalist lifestyle.  Several years ago, I stumbled across an online video created by a young guy who designed and built tiny houses and who had created an online video series … Continue reading →

Posted in Greed, Happiness, Materialism, Philosophy, Self-discipline | Leave a comment

Telling Lies Versus Keeping Secrets

Posted on December 27, 2015 by John Swinburn

It is not hard to keep secrets that must be kept. Secrets that have the potential to do serious damage of one kind or another—inflicting serious emotional or physical harm, for example—keep easily. While guilt may cause discomfort to the person keeping … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Thinking, Philosophy, Self-discipline | Leave a comment

Comfort Versus Luxury

Posted on December 4, 2015 by John Swinburn

At what point does comfort cross into luxury? That question came to me this morning, unexpectedly, while I was checking the clothes dryer. I washed a mish-mash of clothes last night—jeans, t-shirts, socks, etc.—but forgot about them. When I awoke … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Just Thinking, Materialism, Philosophy, Self-discipline | Leave a comment

The Effect of Emotion on Language

Posted on July 10, 2015 by John Swinburn

“My emotions got the best of me.” If that isn’t a ludicrous shifting of blame to an unassailable, non-existent entity, I don’t know what it is. The statement suggests emotions are entirely separate from the person experiencing them. Yet it’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Emotion, Self-discipline | 1 Comment

Peanuts are Purveyors of Pain

Posted on October 5, 2014 by John Swinburn

I’ve been awake for nearly an hour, after almost ten and a half hours of fitful and uncomfortable sleep. We got home just after six-thirty last night, after spending all day at the Showcase of the Arts at the Ponce de … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Health, Self-discipline | Leave a comment

Baby Steps

Posted on March 16, 2014 by John Swinburn

I was surprised last night to learn that programming of value is available on the Fox Network.  I suppose I’ve allowed myself to identify Fox only with Fox News, which I find abysmally shallow, slanted, and deeply deceptive.  But there … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Politics, Religion, Self-discipline | 1 Comment

Reboot

Posted on March 6, 2014 by John Swinburn

There have been times when I’ve exercised consistent self-discipline and there have been times when I’ve indulged myself in slothful laziness.  I always feel better, and feel better about myself, when I have exercised consistent self-discipline.  I felt better, physically, … Continue reading →

Posted in Self-discipline, Sloth | 7 Comments

Failing

Posted on February 24, 2014 by John Swinburn

Several years ago (2006, if memory serves), in another life, I arranged for a couple of speakers for one of my clients’ annual conferences.  This association client needed, in my opinion, a dose of self-critical introspection. Some industry players were … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Self-discipline, Wisdom | Leave a comment

Drive

Posted on January 17, 2014 by John Swinburn

Desire, want, hope…all emotions that seeks change for a perceived better.  “I have a desire to be better looking and have more money.”  “I have a deep-seated want to more gregarious.” “His hope is to achieve a medical breakthrough.” None … Continue reading →

Posted in Happiness, Philosophy, Self-discipline, Wisdom | 3 Comments

You Deserve a Break Today

Posted on January 8, 2014 by John Swinburn

Everyone deserves a break. I deserve a break from my self-imposed insistence that I write something every day. Well, I must continue to do my “Thoughts for the Day,” but I deserve a break from writing my “regular” posts. So, … Continue reading →

Posted in Self-discipline, Writing | 4 Comments

What Is This Teaching Me?

Posted on October 11, 2013 by John Swinburn

So, here I am in the midst of another month of doing without.  My plan calls for doing without, for one month at a time, something I enjoy; this month, I’m depriving myself of a category of food I enjoy: meat. … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Food, Philosophy, Self-discipline | 4 Comments

Settle Down

Posted on October 6, 2013 by John Swinburn

At this very moment, one of the things that would please me most would be to have the ability to live free of anger, free of being so reactive to the negativity and disappointments and upsets I face in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Happiness, Self-discipline | Leave a comment

Doing Without: A Meat-Free October

Posted on September 26, 2013 by John Swinburn

September is winding down.  If I choose, I can celebrate on October 1 with a stiff drink or a beer, but I’m beginning to think I should stick with September’s commitment to doing without alcohol.  At the very least, I should … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Food, Self-discipline | 5 Comments

Doing Without Alcohol: Alternative Addictions?

Posted on September 12, 2013 by John Swinburn

My perception of my year of doing without is changing.  My casual experiment is having unexpected results.  I’m thinking of things I didn’t allow myself to think before I started this. This is my month for doing without alcohol.  Iced … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Self-discipline | 6 Comments

Doing Without: First Success

Posted on September 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

The month of August has passed and so has my first successful month of doing without. I gave up coffee for the entire month with no difficulty.  Today, I began September with a treat: a cup of very nice, rich, … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Self-discipline | 6 Comments

Coffee-Walk-Sloth-Pain

Posted on August 2, 2013 by John Swinburn

I’m only on day two of doing without and, as expected, I have had no difficulty doing without coffee.  But my coffee replacement, a 30+ minute morning walk, has been more of an adjustment than it should have been, considering … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Self-discipline, Sloth, Walking | Leave a comment

Doing Without: An August Beginning

Posted on July 30, 2013 by John Swinburn

I’ve been thinking all month about what I would do without in my first month of doing without.  July, of course, was not the first month.  That will be August. For my first month, I’ll do without coffee, which will … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Self-discipline | Leave a comment

Discipline: Doing Without

Posted on July 3, 2013 by John Swinburn

I subscribe to, but infrequently read, the periodic musings of a guy named Leo Babauta who writes Zen Habits. For some reason, the emailed post I received on July 1 caught my attention.  Entitled, “A Year of Living Without,” it detailed … Continue reading →

Posted in Doing Without, Happiness, Philosophy, Self-discipline | 1 Comment