The thoughts that shape my writing

Fragments of history, reflections on memory, and glimpses of the human thread that runs through it all.

Orwell in the Age of Trump
John Rees John Rees

Orwell in the Age of Trump

In 1949 George Orwell wrote what many consider his masterpiece, 1984. What can it teach us about what’s happening in the world today?

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Aristotle: The Art of Flourishing in a World of Extremes
John Rees John Rees

Aristotle: The Art of Flourishing in a World of Extremes

Aristotle’s name turns up in every “greatest thinkers” list, usually surrounded by marble busts (like the one above) and ancient manuscripts. Which is fine — but it also means a lot of people switch off before they’ve even got to the interesting part.

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The Pursuit of Purpose
John Rees John Rees

The Pursuit of Purpose

Defining purpose is deeply personal. For some, it’s in learning. For others, it’s in creativity, health, service, relationships, or compassion.

Purpose doesn’t always look dramatic. It might show up in daily kindness. In gentle consistency. In noticing what others rush past.

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The Coffee Shop Conundrum
John Rees John Rees

The Coffee Shop Conundrum

In the rush of everyday life, how often do we truly pause and just be? On a long, slow drive home from Oxford, a chance encounter with a Buddhist nun at a motorway service station became an unexpected lesson in presence. Amid the chaos of busy roads and distracted drivers, she shared a simple piece of wisdom passed to her by the Dalai Lama: “Be Here Now.”

This isn’t a story about road trips — it’s a reminder that peace isn’t found in getting somewhere faster, but in being fully present where you are.

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