Interpersonal connection: some people thrive on it, others fear it. Whatever our relationship to it, it seems to hold a great power. In this first issue of The Circle, Anna Sinski finds a torch in the underworld of grief, and Caylyn Adamko sets down her armor to see what doors open.
Author Archives: R. A. Brookfield
Courage to Desire Imperfectly
What if our desires were always becoming reality, even the ones hidden from ourselves? Would we retreat in fear of unintended consequences, or consciously embrace the creative process? Perhaps true manifestation begins not with choosing the perfect desire, but with entering the unknown, facing ourselves, and learning through what unfolds.
Seeking connection
Over the years, I’ve searched for connection in quiet, indirect ways, through photography, writing, social media, and simply being there for others. Lately, I’ve begun to wonder whether connection requires something more from me: the willingness to reach outward, risk discomfort, and say the thing I’m afraid to say.
Mimesis: Creativity Unlocked
A dream of sealed waterways, a restless need to create, and a question I could not answer: what am I meant to be? Somewhere in the darkness, the answer shifted. Perhaps creativity is not choosing a form, but entering the abyss, listening, and giving shape to whatever emerges.
Recognizing Patterns: Overcoming Panic
Two problems arrived in the mailbox, but so did their answers. By noticing my familiar rush into fear and allowing my mind to quiet, practical solutions appeared almost immediately. It made me wonder how often life places answers directly before us, while panic keeps us from recognizing what is already there.
Rediscovering Innocence: A Father’s Perspective on Growing Up
Watching a child grow is both beautiful and bittersweet. Their innocence does not disappear; it becomes layered beneath fears, memories, and hard-won armor. Perhaps growing up is less about losing the child within and more about entering a cocoon, where transformation quietly prepares us to emerge free once again, whole.
The Hidden Gift Under the ‘Chaos’
I sat in my office, text messages, emails, and phone calls frantically pouring in. I felt like I wanted to scream into a pillow, my head felt like it was in a vise. The phone sat on the desk in front of me, as if waiting for me to acknowledge its demands. A multi-million dollarContinueContinue reading “The Hidden Gift Under the ‘Chaos’”
The Same Ground, New Eyes (continued)
When I catch myself in those useless thought loops, what if I just recall a time when I felt calm and open, let my body drift toward that feeling, and watch the loops gradually dissolve? It’s less about forcing mental discipline and more about choosing the state I want to inhabit; remembering what it feels like, quieting my mind enough to let my body shift into that remembered space.
The Same Ground, New Eyes
I worked my way into a Director position many years ago and with that role comes its own gifts and challenges. One of the rewards is that I am no longer responsible for day-to-day schedules, call-offs, and employee disputes. Now, just ahead of me, the manager is going on vacation, leaving me to cover forContinueContinue reading “The Same Ground, New Eyes”
Aligning Engravings on the GlowForge Aura with a 3D-Printed Corner Guide
Part 1: The Problem About 6 months ago, I got a GlowForge Aura. It was my first laser engraver/cutter, but I had CNC experience with a Genmitsu 4040-Pro Max and assumed that knowledge would transfer. It was not quite what I expcted though. I should have researched GlowForge more before buying. It’s a good device,ContinueContinue reading “Aligning Engravings on the GlowForge Aura with a 3D-Printed Corner Guide”