James credits his latest book Creative Recycling Side Hustle to a cartoon that read “Make America Greta Again.” After hearing Greta Thunberg’s UN speech, he knew he was no activist. But he thought could do more to help the environment. His hope: the book will inspire others to work with what they have — who doesn’t have trash? At least now with his book, they can get paid to recycle it.
James meditates, does yoga and ecstatic dance. As a whirling dervish, he’s done spinning for an hour at a time or longer. Woo woo, maybe. But meditative practices have a side effect of simulating creativity.
He’s also been learning Swing dance, but it’s fifty-five miles to the nearest dance studio.
James lives next to 200 square miles of the Cibola National Forest. He says the peace, beauty and purity of nature has spoiled him.
His last real job was as a computer operator for the City of Denver. He left it to move to New Mexico and study weaving and fiber arts. After his first few pieces sold, he grew a successful business as an artisan and never considered working for anyone else again.
In 2019, James took a long awaited trip across Europe. He changed his travel “plan” so often he finally gave up attempting to control the adventure and surrendered to the moment and place wherever he landed.
Starting at the age of 10, he thought he might become a writer some day. But try as he could, he was unable to finish a story or book. Until, that is, he learned the craft of weaving. If you aren’t a patient person, weaving will make you one. Weaving involves envisioning a completed project and then, thread by thread, working toward completion. Not too different from writing; word by word until the work is done.
Since his twenties, James has consistently been on the lookout for his next best step in life. Sometimes that meant adopting new, healthier habits like giving up soda water, sugar and processed foods. It only hurt for a little while. And it kept him from having to see a doctor for over 45 years.
