What is your favorite quote?
AGAIN, too many to mention, from Mandela to Maya Angelou and many many more in between. However, one that I cite in my work is:
“None of us is born intolerant of those who differ from us. Intolerance is taught and can be untaught.”
No explanation is needed. Res ipsa loquitur! 👍🏽
by
Ryan Clement
Many years ago I wrote a blog about what is art? President Obama wrote The Audacity of Hope (which I have read. Good book 👍🏽). I, a non-art student, sought to answer this age old question in a blog of only a few words; The Audacity of Arrogance?
Far from it! I was simply explaining what it meant to me because I had concluded that it was for the individual to say how, if at all, a piece of work moved or moves them.
Today, I read a piece by a brilliant writer, Georgi, whose work I greatly admire. He has an insight that makes you think and rethink, which can lead to one self-reflecting on their perspectives and viewpoints on various matters about which he writes. He wrote a piece to which, like many, I responded (for some reason, I can’t find it, and hope it is not/was not lost! 😩)
In a nutshell, I wrote about my moving perspective on a plant 🌱 belonging to my late mother. When she was with us in person, the plant was just a plant and no more. Now, I have not only internalised her love of that part of nature but I absolutely love that plant (and her offspring) 🪴 (which I am reliably informed is called a peony or paeony) that has gown to be more meaningful to me.
As the good piece by Georgi rightly intimates, the plant is the same but my inner has changed, which now makes me view the plant differently. The same could be said of when I had that Eureka moment about Dame Tracey Emin’s work, My Bed, that I wrote about in my blog back in 2023.
“Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.” Oscar Wilde
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet…” William Shakespeare
Copyright © Ryan Clement 2026
Do you think everything happens for a reason?
No, not naturally.
I cannot believe the horrors we witness in parts of the world or someone deliberately committing acts that are harmful to innocent others happen, naturally, for a reason. If I am wrong, then I cannot see that reason being a ‘good’ one! But, what do I know?
by
Ryan Clement
Today’s daily prompt was, “What’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?” which, for me, is an impossible question to answer because there are so many. However, I answered by cheating – I chose three songs! Then I remembered two more (songs), but was locked out, so l created my own blog.
I recall being by my friend, Caz, many years ago and she said GB had a new CD of which I was unaware at the time. I purchased it. Like many, I love George Benson, and fell in love with the CD immediately. However, the song that stood out and struck me the most, which I still sing (humm) today is the track, ‘Cell Phone’
I listen to Cell Phone alongside Luther’s ‘Dance with my Father’
Those two songs are incredibly powerful and emotional, especially, for me, more so since I lost my dear Mother!
What’s a song lyric that has stuck with you forever?
Obviously, there are too many to mention. But ‘That’s what friends are for.’ ‘Friends will be Friends,’ and ‘You’ve got a friend’ (MJ version)
There’s an obvious common theme.
by
Ryan Clement
THREE WEEKS AGO TODAY, I was on the/another idyllic Greek island 🏝️ of Santorini 🇬🇷
We took an early ferry from Heraklion, Crete’s capital. Even in the early hours, the port was mega busy because one could travel to many other islands. Also, it was extremely hot 🥵 The ferry journey was efficient. In and out of the port rapidly. I was impressed.
Like many, I had seen Santorini on television and on social media. However, seeing is believing. You really do feel like you’re in a dreamworld bubble. It is picturesque and has a calmness and therapeutic feel about it. Our tour guide informed us of how lucky we were because normally when the cruise liners are in, there is hardly room to breathe as visitors manoeuvre to take the perfect picture from the perfect spot of which there are many. So Many!
I think it would be fair to say that Oia is arguably the most popular or famous location on the island, followed closely by the capital, Fira, which was visited after lunch. I cannot describe the feeling of lunching in Oia at a restaurant on the edge of the vast Aegean Sea, so I shall just ask the reader to imagine the most beautiful setting you can think of, add your favourite food and drink, add the bluest, clearest, calmest sea possible with the occasional sailing boat passing languidly by. When you have done that, multiply THAT image by a minimum of 10, then you’ll be close – but ONLY close! Say no more!
I’ll be back!
Copyright © Ryan Clement 2026
by
Ryan Clement
YESTERDAY, I spent my morning and afternoon at Knossos, which is located in Heraklion on the island of Crete, Greece 🇬🇷
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRKR19G5/
Recently, I wrote how much I disliked history lessons at school but absolutely love it now. I find that, on occasions, it helps me to make sense of current events and affairs around the world. ‘Have we been here before? What lessons have we or could we have learned?’
Whilst walking around, listening to the excellent tour guide tour and basking in extremely hot temperatures on the largest of the Greek islands outside the mainland, I wondered how far had we humans progressed beyond the obvious, such as technology, medicine etc?
I’m generally an optimist, but here I was standing on the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete, ‘widely considered Europe’s oldest city,’ the, ‘ceremonial and political center of the Minoan civilization and culture,’ and confess that the answer to my thoughts on progression over time didn’t necessarily fill me with joy.
“Strange as it may seem, I believed that once one or two troubles of which I was aware as a child, about which I used to hear on the news were resolved, there would be peace in all ‘four corners’ of the Earth 🌍 🌎🌏 I need not say anymore! 🙏🏾”
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNRKdWE6X/
Copyright © Ryan Clement 2026
What’s something you used to believe as a kid that seems ridiculous now?
Strange as it may seem, I believed that once one or two troubles of which I was aware as a child, about which I used to hear on the news were resolved, there would be peace in all ‘four corners’ of the Earth 🌍 🌎🌏 I need not say anymore! 🙏🏾
🕊️
What do you love now, that you hated when you were younger?
To be blunt, I found history lessons at school boring and irrelevant. The lessons were overly descriptive and bore little to no relevance to current times. Now, I love history and often refer to it in order to make sense of many events occurring in the world today.
by
Ryan Clement
HOW TIME FLIES! It seems as though it were only yesterday I was writing from the beautiful Greek island of Kos. This time I am writing from another beautiful Greek island, Crete 🇬🇷 It is hard to imagine why residents of any of the Greek islands would want to travel anywhere else, other than to witness how fortunate they truly are. It’s all here! 🏝️
I have had a heavy week leading to flying ✈️ out and I return to an even heavier time, including commencing a five-day trial concerning alleged unfair dismissal and disability discrimination. So, I thought it take me a while to wind down. It did; immediately upon landing at Heraklion Airport. Perfect response 👌🏾
As I write, I am witnessing the most idyllic of views of the Mediterranean Sea with its accompanying breeze. Bliss!
I have already eaten plenty and sipped a little too much, if there could be such a thing out here. Anyway, a cocktail 🍸 is calling me, and I accept the call, which was met with no resistance.
Cheers! 🥂
Copyright © Ryan Clement 2026
