Other | J.R. Johnson

Archive for the ‘Other’ Category

It’s Playtime Time!

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, stress-free fun, Thoughts, winter on February 14, 2026| Leave a Comment »

If there’s one thing I frequently excel at, it’s doing things badly. And I don’t mean this in a negative way.

I find something really enjoyable about just muddling through low-stakes activities, because for me at least, it’s clear that it’s all about fun. If it’s something I’ve never tried before, I’m not going to be great right off the bat. And I’m not there to win prizes, head off to the Olympics, or generally ratchet up expectations to the point of stress. It’s a temporary retreat to childhood with many of the perks and few of the perils.

For example, we’re going snowshoeing today and I fully expect to be terrible at it. And that’s okay!

With any luck, a good time will be had even as I fall, get snow in my mittens, and laugh hysterically while generally have a blast.

Here’s hoping you have a good day too!

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Tea And.

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, Thoughts on February 13, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I’m working on a secret project and on deadline. Have a quote, a pretty picture, and hopefully an adventure!

Do you want an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first? — J.M. Barrie

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Hurry Hard!

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, curling, Olympics2026, sport on February 12, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Crazy day today, so in the spirit of the season, here’s a fun explainer from Dan Lewis at Now I Know on the fun sport of curling!

How Curling Works

The Winter Olympics are here, and that can only mean one thing: for the next few weeks, people who don’t like to do housework and can’t really tolerate the cold will become unnaturally interested in a sport which involves sweeping while standing on ice. Curling is back, and all is right with the world.

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Our American Experience

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, history, how we became, inspiration, power of stories, Thoughts on February 6, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Black history is American history. It’s a story of promise, setback, and redemption—all things at the heart of the American experience. We shouldn’t be afraid of this story. We should learn from it, be inspired by it, and celebrate it every single day… — Colin Allred

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If We Look

Posted in Other, Science!, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, full moon, NASA, science, space, Thoughts, unexpected joys on February 1, 2026| 8 Comments »

We’ve lived in this house for years but this morning I discovered something new. Some confluence of sun angle, time of day and positioning meant that the lampshade in the kitchen reflected a rainbow-colored series of textured light onto the ceiling. It was both joyful and unexpected, reminding me that there is beauty everywhere.

If I look.

Speaking of reflected light, there’s a full moon tonight.

Tonight’s moon is known by many names, including the Wolf Moon, Cold Moon, and Snow Moon. We may finally have clear skies tonight, too, and I’m looking forward to looking up.

Snow Moon: Full Moon in February 2026

February’s Full Snow Moon reaches peak illumination at 5:09 P.M. EST on Sunday, February 1. Step outside after dusk to see the Full Moon in all of its glory!

Since we’re here, I’ll share a link that led to a flurry of conversation in my family.

1969 Apollo 11 First steps on the Moon (16mm footage)

On July 20, 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin aboard touched down on the surface of the Moon 4 days, 6 hours, and 45 minutes after having launched from Cape Canaveral. At 02:56:15 GMT, Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on another celestial body.

My parents were remembering where they were when it happened (at the next-door neighbor’s in Michigan, because they didn’t have a television), and what it felt like to watch the landing. Uplifting.

And looking ahead, NASA’s first crewed mission around the moon in over half a century will be happening soon.

Something to look forward to!

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Let’s Be Wise As Well As Strong

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, freedom, ideas, rights, Thoughts, wisdom on January 31, 2026| Leave a Comment »

“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor.” ― John F. Kennedy in the Saturday Review, October 29 1960

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Everything You Need to Know

Posted in Other, Writing, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, life, Thoughts, Writers, writing on January 30, 2026| 1 Comment »

“All you have to do is to pay attention; lessons always arrive when you are ready, and if you can read the signs, you will learn everything you need to know in order to take the next step.”

― Paulo Coelho

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Colors, Lost and Found

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, creativity, inspiration on January 29, 2026| Leave a Comment »

I spent some time in high school studying the medical and practical uses of local plants. I may have mentioned that I entertain Mr Man when we go out for walks: “Those ‘weeds’ are edible, that’s good for firestarter, and you can use that to make cough syrup. Oh, but that one’s poisonous.” (I’m sure my brother has stories of mysterious bottles marked with a skull and crossbones in the fridge.)

That’s why this video appeals to me (the useful part, not the poison part):

In Search of Forgotten Colours – Sachio Yoshioka and the Art of Natural Dyeing

Sachio Yoshioka is the fifth-generation head of the Somenotsukasa Yoshioka dye workshop in Fushimi, southern Kyoto. When he succeeded to the family business in 1988, he abandoned the use of synthetic colours in favour of dyeing solely with plants and other natural materials.

So pretty!

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Thanks, Mom!

Posted in Other, tagged #365Ways, #365Ways2026, Thoughts on January 26, 2026| Leave a Comment »

A brief content note: My mother is up in arms about yesterday’s post because she insists that I’m important. Thanks, Mom! And I am, in the way that individuals are important to other individuals, and to the world in general. But I try not to feel overly important.

In the interest of clarification, allow me to explain.

There’s a difference between being important and feeling self-important.

I like that Eleanor Roosevelt quote not because I think I’m unimportant, or think that other people are unimportant. My point in sharing that quote from Roosevelt (one of the more important women from the past century) is that I don’t think it pays to feel one’s importance too much.

How you can make a difference in the world, invest time and energy in the people and things you care about, alleviate others’ problems and generally be a good person, those are all things worth thinking about.

I hope I’m not self-important, and I try not to overthink my awesomeness. (Which, to be fair, is real. Just ask my mom*:)