Category Archives: Serenity

Pagoda

Posted on April 20, 2021 by John Swinburn

Until this morning, I have given the subject of pagodas only a passing nod of attention. But for reasons hidden inside my brain and outside my sphere of consciousness, I felt compelled to explore why I suddenly said to myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Architecture, Peace, Serenity | Leave a comment

Here and Now

Posted on February 28, 2020 by John Swinburn

Time and distance no longer matter when the only moment is now and the only place is here. Memories lose their grip on the soul at that juncture. All existence takes place in the present; neither the past nor the … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Philosophy, Serenity | Leave a comment

Looking for Serenity

Posted on February 11, 2020 by John Swinburn

Attempting to achieve anything remotely resembling a sense of serenity these days seems to be a fool’s errand. We are bombarded around the clock with news telling us that almost everything we hold dear is under assault in some form … Continue reading →

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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

Ethiopian Food and Human Decency

Posted on April 24, 2017 by John Swinburn

I’ve discovered that my wife and I are not the only people around Hot Springs who enjoy Ethiopian food. Recently, I posted a query, to a Facebook group dedicated to Hot Springs area restaurant reviews, about whether my unsuccessful efforts to find … Continue reading →

Posted in Compassion, Food, Philosophy, Politics, Serenity, Stereotypes | 2 Comments

Listening and Looking

Posted on May 7, 2015 by John Swinburn

In the interest of serenity, I am sitting on my screened porch, listening to bird calls and songs. I recognize the sounds, but can connect only a few to the birds making them. I hear a mourning dove, a tufted … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Serenity | Leave a comment

Serenity, Interpreted

Posted on April 21, 2015 by John Swinburn

I just stumbled across a post I wrote on January 23, 2011 on another blog that I abandoned some time ago.  Reading it made me catch my breath at what I felt when I wrote it and what I still fee. … Continue reading →

Posted in Just Thinking, Serenity | Leave a comment

Dreaming without the Sleep Part

Posted on December 14, 2014 by John Swinburn

I just spent the better part of two hours in my little “shop,” listening to music and musing about life. Getting lost in music and musing is easy to do. It tends to take me into introspective moods, which can be … Continue reading →

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A Patina of Experience

Posted on August 29, 2014 by John Swinburn

Last night, I was in “a mood.”   It caused me to write an email to a friend, something I too rarely do.  The message was mostly silliness memorialized in language, but as I read my message this morning, I saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Dreams, Philosophy, Serenity, Wisdom | 5 Comments

Life on the “Farm”

Posted on May 25, 2014 by John Swinburn

Our house is near the southern end of the village.  Looking out from our decks and from  the windows of my study, I can see that the land just south of here is heavily wooded and hilly, but not so steep and … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature, Noise, Privacy, Serenity, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Living in the Last Century

Posted on May 5, 2014 by John Swinburn

I can’t quite describe how it feels, but for some reason, it feels like I’m living in the last century, the late 1950s to be precise.  I’m referring only to tonight, not to my life in general.  But tonight is … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Serenity | 1 Comment

Decklife

Posted on May 5, 2014 by John Swinburn

Aside from a few fierce storms that could have wrecked the center of the earth and beyond, the weather here has been rather nice thus far. But yesterday, the thermometer reached levels that would have prompted my father to say the … Continue reading →

Posted in Sense of place, Serenity | 1 Comment

This Morning, Venturing onto the Patio, into My Mind, and Down Memory Lane

Posted on September 28, 2013 by John Swinburn

I open the 15-pane door that lets ample light into the house and leads to the back patio, feeling a blanket of warm, humid air as I leave the air-conditioned house and step outside into reality.  The flagstone patio is … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Serenity | 2 Comments

Old Bones and Buddha and Searching for Home

Posted on May 1, 2013 by John Swinburn

One of my brothers lives in the country.  Not “in the country” on a manicured estate, not on a horse farm with beautifully painted barns and well-maintained pipe fences outlining lush fields of grass.  No, he lives in the country … Continue reading →

Posted in Change, Philosophy, Serenity, Wisdom | 2 Comments

Working on It

Posted on March 21, 2013 by John Swinburn

Last night, I allowed myself to react to comments left on an online posting about Gawker’s release of George Bush’s telephone number.  I loathe George Bush and hold him personally responsible for launching an illegal and devastating war in Iraq, … Continue reading →

Posted in Serenity | 4 Comments

A Breather

Posted on March 17, 2013 by John Swinburn

The music and lyrics to a tune from my youth, A Place in the Sun by Pablo Cruise, have been on my mind lately; I can’t get them out of my mind. Well everybody’s heart needs a holiday, some time … Continue reading →

Posted in Philosophy, Serenity | 3 Comments

Serenity

Posted on March 16, 2013 by John Swinburn

It’s not an infatuation with the Buddha, it’s an infatuation with the concept of serenity. That’s what draws me to these images. That’s why I bought the wooden wall hanging. That’s why I’d like to have the large  cast concrete … Continue reading →

Posted in Serenity | 1 Comment