John Guthrie

Figuring things out, just like everyone else.

Slowly Getting The Hang Of This

I'm slowly getting back into the habit of writing every day. Here are a few things that I thought about to help me establish and maintain my new writing practice. I swore to myself many times that I would start writing regularly, and finally, I think that is

Its the little things that mean so much

I recently debated the status of this webpage because no one had subscribed for many months. I realize this is an organic process; it takes time and care. After all, I am the sole person accountable for creating the content, which means I cannot blame anyone but myself for its

🎵Everybody Must Get Stones🎵

I recently got into collecting stones and crystals after fascinating conversations with people discussing their emotional and physical health benefits. I am not a spiritual person, but perhaps there is some energy from stones and crystals that I can appreciate without someone getting nailed to a tree in the process.

Life is too short to argue with haters

"Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted." John Lennon This quote from John Lennon neatly sums up how I feel about life now. I no longer see life as an obstacle but as an opportunity. I learned to accept that no matter what the world wants me to

Slowing things down

I thought this picture was perfect for what I was about to write. The image of the water flowing around me is how I feel about life's problems. I don't put any effort into things that will pass me by because that only interferes with my

F$@# off, CNN

“Democrats gather to enshrine their audacious power play.” That screaming headline on CNN’s webpage shows just how completely pro-Trump CNN is these days. The mainstream media has failed us completely. You don’t see CNN talking about the Nazi Trump and his brazen attempt to overthrow the government after

When you find out some of the people you like don’t give a f*ck about you, that’s their problem

Self-discovery is hard. When I find out something about myself that I don’t like, or want to change, I feel guilty as if I committed some crime. This feeling is especially true when dealing with people you thought cared about you. Experience proves they don’t care, but emotion

A Welcome Change

I feel great today. Hal and I went to an acupuncture specialist, and I got my sinuses treated. I felt immediate relief, and the pressure inside my head vanished. I haven't felt this alive and energetic in months. It seems like this summer has been extremely hard on

The World on my terms

Over the last four years, I have found that journaling can be a powerful tool for self-discovery, offering numerous benefits that can enhance personal growth and understanding. I keep coming back to this as I struggle with being a writer, at least in my own mind.  Writing isn’t easy;

August 05, 2024 - The new journey begins

Sheryl Crow had a hit song back in the 90s with the lyrics, “Every day is a winding road. I get a little bit closer to feeling fine.” Those words perfectly describe how I approach my life now. Each day represents new opportunities for self-improvement and self-reflection.  I’m learning

Why did a stand-up comedian and a rock band summarize my anxiety so completely when I couldn’t?

I wish I could dictate my entries, but when I hear myself, I always sound awful, and the words don't make sense. How else can I explain that a stand-up comedian could perfectly describe my feelings of anxiety when I can't? Anxiety is a crippling condition

America’s future

Insert atrocity here.

Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage

The other night, I watched a documentary about the period between the two world wars that devastated so many countries and how they acted in the intervening period. The differences between European countries trying to recover from the carnage and the United States were on an economic thrill ride. The

I slipped and fell

Vertigo has been a daily part of my life for nearly four years. I have occasional episodes, so I talk with hiking sticks rather than a cane because I'm never quite sure which way I might keel over to. Some episodes are worse than others, but physical therapy

"We live in a world where we have to hide to make love, while violence is practiced in broad daylight." John Lennon

I read this quote from the late John Lennon, which struck me as simple yet profound. We live in a society that glorifies violence but shames anyone for the act of love or sex, Think about it  Why do we tolerate violence every day from our media, our leaders, and

The Emperor has no clothes, and neither does the Jester.

I’m declaring myself mentally unavailable for the next four months regarding politics. I am so over the election bullshit. There is no way I can feign interest any longer. I said for years that we had been racing along a road and not paying attention to where we were

Daily Kos isn’t for me anymore.

My experience with popular writing sites that seem filled with negative people focuses on Daily Kos. Recently, I decided to start writing again on Daily Kos. I haven’t posted there in years, and when I did, I was the angry version of myself instead of the much calmer and

Holding My Nose and Voting

We are facing a critical election this year. We have a clear choice between Democracy and Nazi/Fascism. I don't need to explain which side is which; only painfully brain-dead MAGAts cannot figure that one out, and we know who they will vote for. My Father fought for

Putting Myself First for a Change

I want to put myself first for a change. I don't mean to be selfish, but I spent too much time focusing on everyone else's needs while inadvertently neglecting myself. I deserve to be happy first and foremost. That won't change my decision to

Father's Day - Better Late than Never

I want to write about my complicated relationship with my Dad as we grew older. He passed away when I was 17 years old. The age difference and time always separated us because he was 56 when I was born. As I matured, he aged. As I became more active,

"Believing in Myself and Taking Risks"

On 15 June 2024, I emailed two old friends whom I hadn't spoken to in many years. I hope to hear from them and reestablish communication with them. None of us are getting any younger, that's for sure. I have changed and matured, somewhat gracefully, over

Recovery From Surgery

This is my first story for June. I am still recovering from eyelid reduction surgery that took place last week. I finally got the procedure medically cleared as necessary for keeping my vision instead of being considered purely cosmetic surgery. For years, my eyelids had become increasingly swollen and heavy

Getting Ready for Pride 2024

As Hal and I grow older, Pride takes on new meaning for us. I am 60, and Hal is 70. We spent most of our lives in the closet or the shadows because society hadn't evolved enough for us to be included as equals. Sadly, in so many

More Writing Progress for Me

I am still a great writer who hasn't found his particular niche yet. That drives me to keep writing and probing my subconscious in search of that elusive viral story that will finally grab the attention I hope for. I won't stop trying. I battled through

Break On Through to the Other Side

I've written a lot about my mental health recently. The never-ending struggle takes its toll on me, and the last two weeks were especially rough. I have done some deep meditation and am starting to uncover things buried for a long time. These things have to come to